Abstract
GH4 enzymes use an unusual NAD⁺-dependent catalytic mechanism that remains poorly understood. Because of their roles in microbial metabolism and potential bioengineering applications, understanding how this mechanism evolved is important. In this study, we use the GH4 structure 1U8X as a reference for structural and functional analysis. Using ancestral sequence reconstruction and phylogenetic analysis, we inferred ancestral GH4 sequences and selected a particular ancestral node for detailed comparison with modern enzymes. These comparisons were used to examine stability, sequence conservation, and catalytic features, helping identify mutations and evolutionary transitions that contributed to the emergence of this distinctive NAD⁺-dependent mechanism.
Faculty Advisor
Masakatsu Watanabe
Department/Program
Chemistry
Submission Type
in-person poster
Date
4-13-2026
Rights
Copyright the Author(s)
Recommended Citation
Park, Chaejun Chaejun Park and Watanabe, Masakatsu
(2026)
"Ancestral Sequence Reconstruction of GH4,"
SACAD: Scholarly Activities: Vol. 2026, Article 109.
Available at:
https://scholars.fhsu.edu/sacad/vol2026/iss2026/109
