title: Catalytic promiscuity and the evolution of new enzymatic activities.
abstract: Several contemporary enzymes catalyze alternative reactions distinct from their normal biological reactions. In some cases the alternative reaction is similar to a reaction that is efficiently catalyzed by an evolutionary related enzyme. Alternative activities could have played an important role in the diversification of enzymes by providing a duplicated gene a head start towards being captured by adaptive evolution.
authors: Department of Biochemistry, B400 Beckman Center, Stanford, CA 94305-5307, USA.
authors: P J
authors: PJ
authors: O'Brien
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Herschlag
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000201:enzymology; D002384:Catalysis; D004798:Enzymes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D006801:Humans; D008958:Models, Molecular; D015202:Protein Engineering
chemical_list: D004798:Enzymes