Small But Useful

Enzymes Could Initiate Emission-Free Plastic Production

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Gentle Plastic Production With A Look into Prehistoric Times

The work also uncovers the biochemical and structural background of a geochemically significant source of hydrocarbons. In fact, the enzyme demonstrates remarkable versatility. It can produce a range of hydrocarbons, such as ethylene, ethane, or methane, which are also important raw materials for the chemical industry. The enzyme’s substrate spectrum, which is very different from that of nitrogenases, offers new opportunities for understanding how protein structure determines the reactivity of metal clusters. The researchers in Marburg provide the foundation to biotechnologically harness these enzymes and adjust their product spectrum in a meaningful way. Furthermore, the findings offer insights into the evolution and role of the "Great Clusters" in the past. Everything points to the fact that structurally similar enzymes already used these clusters for reductive catalysis—long before the nitrogenases themselves evolved. For the researchers, this marks a dramatic turning point in understanding this crucial chapter in the history of life on our planet.

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