Unveiling Hidden Enzymes in Microbial Metabolic Pathways

Description Microbial metabolism represents one of the most chemically diverse and functionally complex systems in nature. Despite decades of research, a substantial proportion of enzymatic reactions encoded in microbial genomes remain functionally uncharacterized, collectively referred to as “hidden” or cryptic enzymes. These include silent biosynthetic gene clusters, orphan enzymes with no assigned reaction, and metabolic steps inferred from pathway logic but lacking experimental validation.Recent advances in multi-omics technologies, including functional metagenomics, comparative genomics, activity-based protein profiling, and high-throughput metabolomics, are now making it possible to systematically identify and characterize these elusive catalysts. Uncovering their functions not only deepens our fundamental understanding of microbial physiology but also unlocks significant biotechnological potential, from novel antibiotics and biocatalysts to biodegradation enzymes and natural product scaffolds.This Research Topic invites contributions that push the boundaries of enzyme discovery in microbial systems, with a particular focus on:-Novel enzymatic mechanisms uncovered through structural, biochemical, or evolutionary analyses-Enzyme–metabolite network reconstruction in model and non-model microorganisms-Computational and experimental strategies for orphan enzyme annotation and functional assignment-Activation and characterization of silent or cryptic biosynthetic gene clusters-Metagenomic and single-cell approaches for enzyme prospecting in underexplored environments-Applications of hidden enzyme discovery in biotechnology, medicine, and environmental scienceWe welcome original research articles, systematic reviews, mini-reviews, and methods papers. Studies spanning bacteria, archaea, and microbial eukaryotes are all within scope, as are interdisciplinary approaches that bridge microbiology, biochemistry, structural biology, and bioinformatics. Topic editors: Michael Dare Asemoloye, Kylie Allen, Ana Lorena Arabolaza Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/82653/unveiling-hidden-enzymes-in-microbial-metabolic-pathways