Post by ErebaGen

Genome sequencing has transformed our understanding of biology and evolution, but it has also created a new challenge. We now have access to millions of microbial genomes, and with them an overwhelming amount of uncharacterised sequence space. Tools like BLAST were once at the heart of enzyme mining, but today the most common result is: “hypothetical protein similar to hypothetical protein.” We’re surrounded by microbial dark matter, huge numbers of proteins whose structures and functions are unknown. Hidden within them could be: • New starting points for drug discovery • Novel biocatalysts to replace challenging chemical synthesis • New-to-nature reaction mechanisms • More tolerant and robust bioprocessing enzymes • Regulatory circuits for building alternative host chassis The challenge now is how to navigate and extract value from this complexity. Do we need better AI models to predict function from sequence? Do we need faster experimental tools to probe proteins in bulk? Or, most likely, do we need both? ErebaGen have developed a range of tools that help us effectively mine microbial genomes. From discovering new biocatalysts to new small molecules, our technology can help harness the silent metabolism of bacteria, please reach out to learn more.