Enzyme Profiling

Introduction to Enzyme Profiling

Enzyme profiling is a sophisticated technique that harnesses the unique enzymatic signatures of organisms for accurate species identification. Every organism possesses a distinct set of enzymes, biological catalysts that drive essential biochemical reactions. These enzymes, encoded by the organism's genetic makeup, act as a unique "fingerprint" reflecting its evolutionary history and environmental adaptations. By analyzing the presence, absence, and activity levels of specific enzymes, we can generate distinct enzymatic profiles, enabling precise species identification.

The principle behind enzyme profiling lies in the diversity and specificity of enzymes across different species. Even closely related organisms exhibit subtle variations in their enzymatic repertoire, influenced by genetic variations and environmental pressures. These variations in enzyme types and activities provide a robust basis for species differentiation.

Our advanced techniques allow us to extract and analyze these enzymatic fingerprints, creating detailed profiles that can be compared against extensive databases of known species. This comparison enables accurate identification, even for closely related or morphologically similar organisms.

• Speed and Efficiency: Compared to time-consuming techniques like DNA sequencing, enzyme profiling provides rapid results, accelerating decision-making processes.
• Cost-Effectiveness: It is often more economical than complex molecular techniques, making it a viable option for large-scale applications.
• Versatility: Enzyme profiling can be applied to a broad spectrum of organisms, including bacteria, fungi, plants, and animals, making it a versatile tool for diverse research and industrial needs.
• Complementary Approach: It can be integrated with other identification methods, such as DNA barcoding, to enhance accuracy and provide a more comprehensive understanding of species diversity.

• Reducing reliance on chemical methods: By enabling accurate identification of biological contaminants and facilitating targeted bioremediation strategies, enzyme profiling reduces the need for harsh chemical treatments, minimizing environmental impact.
• Enhancing biodiversity conservation: Accurate species identification is crucial for biodiversity monitoring and conservation efforts. Enzyme profiling aids in identifying endangered or invasive species, facilitating effective conservation strategies.
• Promoting sustainable agriculture: By identifying plant pathogens and beneficial soil microbes, enzyme profiling supports sustainable agricultural practices, reducing the need for chemical pesticides and fertilizers.

• Activity-based Protein Profiling (ABPP): We utilize ABPP to monitor the state of proteins, revealing complex physiological and pathological enzyme-substrate interactions at molecular and cellular levels. This technique provides critical information on catalytic activity changes, annotates new functions, discovers new substrates, and allows real-time monitoring of cellular locations.
• Chemiluminescent Probes for Bacterial Classification: Our proprietary array of chemiluminescent probes enables the ultra-sensitive detection of enzymatic activities, facilitating the classification and characterization of bacterial species.
• Soil Enzyme Analysis: We analyze soil samples to identify microbial hotspots, providing insights into soil health and microbial activity, which is crucial for environmental assessments and ecological studies.
• Activity-based Cell Sorting: This method allows us to sort individual cells based on their associated enzymatic activity, linking protease activity to other measurement modalities at the cellular scale.
• In Situ Zymography and Activity-based Cell Sorting: We translate in vivo nanosensors into activatable probes for in situ zymography and activity-based cell sorting, enabling the detection and monitoring of disease progression and treatment response in preclinical models.