Evaluation of Complex Biocatalysis in Aqueous Solution. Part I: Efforts Towards a Biophysical Perspective of the Cellulosome

The intricate interplay of biomolecules acting together, rather than alone,provides insight into the most basic of cellular functions, such as cell signaling, metabolism, defense, and, ultimately, the creation of life. Inherent in each of these processes is an evolutionary tendency towards increased efficiency by means of biolgocial synergy¿ the ability of individual elements of a system to produce a combined effect that is different and often greater than the sum of the effects of the parts. We discuss the multicomponent, enzyme complex the cellulosome as a model system of biological synergy. Native cellulosomes comprise numerous carbohydrate-­¿¿active binding proteins and enzymes designed for the efficient degradation of plant cell wall matrix polysaccharides, namely cellulose. Cellulosomes are modular enzyme complexes, comparable to enzyme ¿legos¿ that may be readily constructed into multiple geometries by synthetic design. Cellulosomal celllulases provide means to measure protein efficiency with altered complex geometry through assay of enzymatic activity as a function of geometry.