Researchers rebuilt ancient enzyme to function with fewer amino acids
Scientists at Waseda University and RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences in Japan published findings on October 9, 2026, regarding an ancestral enzyme that generates ATP without requiring specific amino acids.
Study team investigates protein limits
Professor Satoshi Akanuma and assistant professor Sota Yagi led the research alongside colleagues from RIKEN. The group examined how restricting amino acid diversity changes the structure of ancestral enzymes. They focused on nucleoside diphosphate kinase to understand early life chemical constraints.
Enzyme functions with limited parts
The engineered variants produced ATP without needing the amino acid usually required for this reaction. This result suggests proteins could operate effectively when fewer building blocks were available. The findings appear in Angewandte Chemie International Edition on October 9, 2026.
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