CeNS Colloquium

Prof. Edward A. Bayer
Department of Biological Chemistry, Weizmann Institute of Science

Cellulosomes are complex multi-enzyme machines produced by anaerobic cellulolytic bacteria, designed for efficient decomposition of plant cell wall polysaccharides, notably cellulose. These protein complexes consist of interlocking, multi-modular, structural and enzymatic subunits, which fit together like a molecular Lego.

We have harnessed the molecular logic of the cellulosome components and have developed methodologies to re-tool their precise structural organization. For this purpose, functional parts of cellulosome subunits from different microorganisms can be mixed and matched by recombinant means to produce chimaeric components, which can be fitted together in a controlled manner into novel designer cellulosomes. Using this approach, we can re-fabricate in a precise and exquisite manner the exact complement of desired components into highly uniform complexes, whereby these artificial cellulosomes are functional in all their parts. In the future, this flexible system can be used to restructure cellulosomes into unconventional molecular arrangements for general application in the nanosciences.