A group of researchers at Ume University have discovered that a single-celled organisms has evolved into a human. It could be used as a building block in the design of new enzymes because of its unique properties. Science Advances presents the discoveries.
Humans are part of the last group of organisms on the planet, the eukaryotes. It is possible that we evolved from archaea and frombacteria.
A group of researchers from the Department of Chemistry at Ume University have found a trace of an archaea in the nucleus of human cells. Energy metabolism, genome stabilization and programmed cell death are some of the functions of the AK6 humanidase.
The discovery adds to the understanding of how human cells have evolved over time. The discovery that we humans have a lot of Neanderthal DNA in our genetic material makes the timing interesting.
Features of odinarchaeota are unique.
The humanidase AK6 has a similar feature to the primitive predecessor odinarchaeota AK6 can only recognize a single molecule when catalyzing a chemical reaction, but the odinarchaeota can use a wide range of molecules.
The Department of Chemistry discovered a mechanism for the broad spectrum.
The trick is that odinarchaeota uses the amino acid glutamine, which has unique chemical properties that are used to their fullest potential. The general and broad recognition of different molecule takes place with a short loop sequence in theidase and this loop could be used as a Lego piece in the design of new enzymes.
The goal of the area of enzymes design is to develop enzymes that can be utilized in green chemistry. Ume University has a strong research area on wood raw materials.
There is more information about the evolution of enzymatic specificity and catalysis. There is a book titled "Sci Adv.abm4089."
Journal information: Science Advances
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