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4 august , 2025
Water Identified as Key Player in Enzyme Function – New Insights Published in Nature Communications
Researchers at the University of Greifswald have discovered a unique feature of enzymes involved in sugar conversion: a precisely coordinated water molecule that plays a direct role in their activity. This finding could pave the way for improving biocatalysts used in industrial applications such as food processing and biofuel production. The study was published in Nature Communications on 31 July 2025.
Led by Prof. Dr. Uwe Bornscheuer from the Institute of Biochemistry, the research team studied carbohydrate esterases biocatalysts that modify complex sugar structures by removing specific chemical groups. These enzymes are critical because they influence how other enzymes break down sugars.
Within the DFG-funded Research Unit POMPU and in collaboration with Brazilian scientists, the researchers used X-ray crystallography to resolve the full length structures of two CE20 enzyme family members Fl8CE20_II and PpCE20_II, revealing their function for the first time.
To their surprise, the scientists found an unexpected feature in the enzyme’s active site. Normally, this site includes a “catalytic triad” of three amino acids working together. But in these enzymes, one amino acid was missing. Instead, a precisely positioned water molecule took its place and fulfilled its role.
“This 'water mediated catalytic triad' was confirmed through targeted mutations,” explains Michelle Teune, a doctoral student at Greifswald and co first author of the study with Plinio Vieira. “The water molecule proved essential for the enzyme’s activity.”
“This shows that water isn’t just a solvent it actively participates in the catalytic process,” adds Prof. Michael Lammers, a structural biologist involved in the study. “It’s a previously unknown mechanism that broadens our understanding of enzyme chemistry.”
Prof. Bornscheuer highlights the value of international collaboration and the significance of this discovery for both fundamental science and applied biotechnology. “These insights are not only vital to understanding carbohydrate esterases but also hold promise for developing sustainable applications from food technology to biofuel production.”