Enzyme Search, Discovery, and Engineering: What’s the Difference?

If you’ve had time to dive into the world of industrial enzymes, you've probably heard terms like "enzyme search," "enzyme discovery," and "enzyme engineering" being thrown around.

But do you know what each one really means?

Enzyme Search

So, you're on the hunt for the perfect biocatalyst to improve your industrial processes.

But there are millions of enzymes. How do you find the one that's specific to your chemical process?

Enzyme search involves scouring databases, screening libraries, and conducting virtual experiments to find the ideal biocatalyst for your specific needs.

Here, the scope is important: the bigger the database, the bigger the chances of finding the enzyme you were looking for.

Enzyme Discovery

Now, let's talk about enzyme discovery.

This is when a new enzyme is “uncovered” for the very first time.

Unlike enzyme search, which involves finding a biocatalyst from an existing database or library, enzyme discovery focuses on enzyme sequences that, until now, were not registered in any public database.

Enzyme discovery involves isolating enzymes from nature, whether it's from microorganisms in soil or extremophiles in deep-sea vents.

Once discovered, these biocatalysts can be tested, optimized, and put to work in various industrial applications.

Enzyme Engineering

So, you’ve found the enzyme you were looking for.

However, when you try to apply it to your industrial chemical process, you find that it’s not performing as well as you’d hoped.

Maybe the activity is lower than expected, or maybe the biocatalyst is not compatible with your production environment.

This is where Enzyme engineering can help.

Enzyme engineering (or enzyme optimization) is the process of tweaking and fine-tuning biocatalysts to meet specific requirements. It’s like customizing a car to make it faster, sleeker, and more efficient.

When we talk about optimizing a biocatalyst, we’re using techniques like directed evolution and rational design to enhance properties like its activity, stability, and specificity.

In summary, it's about taking what already exists in Nature and applying the right modification to create enzymes that are tailor-made for your needs.