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Review
. 1999 Apr;6(4):R91-R105.
doi: 10.1016/S1074-5521(99)80033-7.

Catalytic promiscuity and the evolution of new enzymatic activities

P J O'Brien  1 , D Herschlag
Affiliations
Review

Catalytic promiscuity and the evolution of new enzymatic activities

P J O'Brien et al. Chem Biol. 1999 Apr.

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.

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