Improved chemistry by combining enzyme engineering,enzyme immobilization
Dr. Camacho provided an overview of protein engineering at MSD that aims at discovering and developing active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) by inventing and improving protein functions. Her talk focused on the work of the enzyme engineering group at MSD, which aims to enhance biocatalyst function through evolution. Protein engineering and specifically directed evolution allow the MSD group to address and improve upon biocatalysts’ properties, such as substrate scope and tolerance to environmental conditions. To achieve this goal, the MSD group follows a “Design-Make-Test-Learn” workflow based on the design and development of mutant libraries, high-throughput mutant expression, and testing for selection. Iterative “Design-Make-Test-Learn” cycles enable the group to identify enzymes with improved properties.