Brief Introduction

Protein evolution is determined by different factors: mutations of the encoding genes, selection on protein structure and function, regulation of gene expression patterns, position in biological networks. As protein sequence evolves, enzymes can change their reaction profile and accommodate different substrates. Indeed, many enzymes perform multiple reactions and are called promiscuous. Many studies have revealed a possible role of promiscuous enzymes as intermediates in the evolution of moonlighting functions.

Ocean offers a unique opportunity to study protein evolution as life began in the ocean and tells the story of how the most complex organisms evolved from primordial bacteria. The ability of organisms to adapt to the changing conditions of their habitat is crucial to guarantee their survival and reproduction. Adaptation to the living environment drives the innovation, exchange, and demise of enzyme function. At the metabolic level, this process of adaptation is related to the ability of enzymes to evolve beneficial functions and improve the fitness in an environment of changing conditions. On the other hand, mankind can get ideas from nature and exploit the unique properties displayed by specialized proteins and molecules for biotechnological and pharmaceutical applications.