Mutations that give rise to new functions are not more destabilizing than mutations in general

Summary

Mutations that give rise to new functions are not more destabilizing than mutations in general. About 70% of mutations are destabilizing, and >20% of mutations are very destabilizing. In enzymes, mutations that give rise to new functions are equally destabilizing suggesting that there is nothing inherently destabilizing about the introduction of new functions (1).

See also

• Stability-activity trade-off during enzyme design and evolution is highly local and not global
• Most mutations with no effect on stability are found near the surface of proteins

1.

Tokuriki N, Stricher F, Serrano L, Tawfik DS. How Protein Stability and New Functions Trade Off. PLoS Computational Biology. 2008;4(2):e1000002. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pcbi.1000002