The Enzyme Function Initiative (EFI) has been established with a Glue Grant from NIGMS/NIH (U54GM093342).   The goal is to develop a sequence/structure‑based strategy for facilitating discovery of in vitro enzymatic and in vivo metabolic/physiological functions of unknown enzymes discovered in genome projects, a crucial limitation in genomic biology.  This will be accomplished by integrating bioinformatics, structural biology, and computation with enzymology, genetics, and metabolomics. The EFI is formed from five Scientific Cores: Superfamily/Genome Core (Patricia C. Babbitt, UCSF) for directing target selection as well as devising strategies for functional assignment based on sequence relationships and genome context.

Protein and Structure Cores (Steven C. Almo, Albert Einstein College of Medicine) for expression, purification, and experimental determination of structures of targets. Computation Core (Matthew P. Jacobson, Andrej Sali, Brian K. Shoichet, UCSF) for computational determination of structures of targets (homology modeling) and, also, in silico docking of ligand libraries to direct experimental assignment of in vitro functions. Microbiology Core (John E. Cronan  and Jonanthan V. Sweedler, University of Illinois, Urbana‑Champaign) for genetic, physiologic and metabolomic characterization of in vivo roles of in vitro assigned functions. Functional predictions made by the Superfamily/Genome and Computation Cores are tested by five Bridging Projects that focus on functionally diverse superfamilies: Amidohydrolase (Frank M. Raushel, Texas A&M University); Enolase (John A. Gerlt, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign); Glutathione Transferase (Richard N. Armstrong, Vanderbilt University); Haloalkanoic Acid Dehalogenase (Karen N. Allen, Boston University, and Debra Dunaway‑Mariano, University of New Mexico); Isoprenoid Synthase (C. Dale Poulter, University of Utah).

postdoctoral positions are available in the microbiology core,  with focus on phenotypic analyses of knockout/overexpression mutants, transcriptomics, and metabolomics. Functional assignment of unknown enzymes is a challenging problem that requires broad expertise that is beyond a single investigator.  The EFI environment provides an opportunity to receive training in more than one area of expertise.  For example, those with a primary interest in microbial genetics can receive training in bioinformatics or in silico ligand docking. Such combinations of training are not generally available, but the EFI is uniquely positioned to provide such opportunities.  To apply and/or for more detailed information, please contact John Cronan ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it '; document.write( '' ); document.write( addy_text96568 ); document.write( '<\/a>' ); //-->\n This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ).