Diheme Enzymes: Understanding Natures’ Design for Cooperative Catalysis and Sustainable Development

Diheme Enzymes: Understanding Natures’ Design for Cooperative Catalysis and Sustainable Development (Prof. S. P. Rath, Chemistry)

The research is aimed at biomimetic study of di-heme enzymes such as cytochrome c peroxidases, rubber oxygenases and MauG and has been designed to understand the Nature’s sophisticated design at the molecular level and also to reproduce the enzymatic functions in the laboratory for sustainable development and industrial applications. Di-heme enzymes are not simple heme assemblies but indeed sophisticated devices. Heme-heme interaction and cooperativity appear to be critical for high catalytic efficiency of diheme enzymes. Each heme unit behaves like a domain in multi-domain proteins and also has specific functions, including a regulatory one. Efficient catalysts will be designed to destroy the reactive oxygen species (ROS) efficiently as a sustainable solution for aging and age-related diseases. The oxidative decomposition of the rubber/polymer will also be investigated using synthetic rubber oxygenase analog, a long waited natural and sustainable solution towards environmental pollution. Most importantly, the outcome of such investigation will also provide practical solutions for future sustainable development and industrial application.