Advances in Enzyme/Protein Stabilization

Enzyme/protein three-dimensional structure stability is crucial for function, e.g., enzyme catalysis relies on the preservation of substrate binding pocket and proper arrangement of reactive chemical groups. Besides, preservation of non-covalent bound prosthetic groups is important to maintaining catalytic function, as well as the maintenance of macromolecular structures in oligomeric proteins. Changes in medium temperature and pH, pressure, water potential (dehydration), the presence of high concentration of ethanol, salt, etc. are among the most common physicochemical events leading to enzyme/protein inactivation. Diverse mechanisms nonetheless have evolved in order to cope with the different processes of enzyme/protein inactivation. Hence, stabilization of protein structure and function has been the subject of intensive research since the success in purification of proteins were attained. In this regard, enzyme/protein stabilization is of high importance in an ample diversity of fields, whether in evolution, normal metabolism, cellular differentiation and specialization, health and disease, and in all the fields of applications in science, technology, and industrial/pharmaceutical processing and their final products.

Enzymes’ function depends amply on proper protein three-dimensional structure. The overall folding of proteins is based on a network of weak noncovalent interactions forming the different levels of protein structure organization. Protein structure, therefore, may change easily when minimum physical and chemical variations occur in the aqueous medium.

The present research topic focuses on work related to the study of mechanisms and kinetics of enzyme/protein inactivation and/or denaturation as well as on all the diverse strategies of enzyme stabilization that are a result of nature’s evolution as well as those developed and implemented in scientific laboratories and diverse industries.

This research topic encourages the submission of papers that cover current research whether experimental, theoretical or in silico of the mechanisms of protein inactivation and stabilization considering with an emphasis of works that provide a deep physical/mathematical analysis:

• Enzyme inactivation
• Protein folding/unfolding
• Inactivation mechanism and kinetics
• Enzyme stabilization & mechanisms
• Use and applications of stabilized enzymes/proteins

We welcome submissions of the following article types: Brief Research Report, General Commentary, Hypothesis & Theory, Methods, Mini Review and Review, Original Research, and Perspective.