-
Funding
Funding
HFSP supports novel, innovative and interdisciplinary basic research focused on the complex mechanisms of living organisms. A clear emphasis is placed on novel collaborations that bring biologists together to focus on problems at the frontier of the life sciences.
-
Awardees
Awardees
In this section you find information about the awardees in the HFSP scientific programs. This includes a searchable database of HFSP awardees, information on the HFSP Nakasone Award and other achievements by HFSP awardees.
- News & Impact
-
Events
Events
HFSP promotes and participates in several events every year. We are committed to bringing together the scientific community and forging new opportunities to network and have scientific discussions that help to create bridges and partnerships for the future of frontier science.
-
About
About
The Human Frontier Science Program is a program of funding for frontier research in the life sciences. It is implemented by the International Human Frontier Science Program Organization (HFSPO) with its office in Strasbourg. Here you can find all you need to know about the HFSPO.
A bottom-up approach to understand how enzyme structural fluctuations accelerate multistep reactions
2022
-
Grant Awardees - Program
A bottom-up approach to understand how enzyme structural fluctuations accelerate multistep reactions
CHICA Roberto (CANADA)
Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences - University of Ottawa - Ottawa - CANADA
THOMPSON Michael (USA)
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry - University of California, Merced - MERCED - USA
GREEN Anthony P. (UK)
Department of Chemistry - Manchester Institute of Biotechnology - Manchester - UK
Enzymes are a type of protein found within all living cells. Often called biocatalysts, enzymes speed up the rate of biochemical reactions to help support life. Their unique structure imparts certain characteristics and makes them reactive to specific substrates, analogous to a lock and key model. The structure of enzymes is amenable to change, however it is not clear how structural changes in enzymes affect their efficiency (speed of reaction). Our team of interdisciplinary experts is proposing a unique approach to study the effect of structural changes in enzymes on their behavior by using a combination of state-of-the-art time-resolved X-ray crystallography and substrate engineering. This study will allow us to evaluate the link between structural changes and the catalytic efficiency of enzymes for various complex and multistep chemical reactions. The knowledge accrued through these experiments will enable us to predict the role of structural fluctuations in enzyme catalysis, and set the stage for the rational design of efficient artificial enzymes for applications in medicine and industry.