Directed Evolution of Mesophilic Enzymes into Their Thermophilic Counterparts

Abstract

Thermophillic enzymes tend to be less active at low temperatures than are their natural mesophillic or psychrophillic counterparts, which in turn are less thermostable (Fig. 1). Enzymes that are both highly thermostable and highly active at low temperature are not observed in nature. Our study addresses the following question: Are such enzymes physically possible?

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