Proteins and Enzymes

Proteins, and enzymes in particular, are pivotal to a cell’s function. Protein engineering allows proteins to be optimised for technical applications.

Proteins can be produced in a lab using microorganisms. The proteins are purified and characterised in terms of their function. The function of proteins can then be optimised (e.g. the stability and activity of an enzyme) for use in technical applications using targeted mutagenesis or evolutive processes.