Isolation and functional characterisation of microbial β-aminopeptidases

β-Peptides, constituted of β-amino acids, are chemically synthesised molecules useful as biomaterials or therapeutics. β-Peptides form structures and have biological activity like naturally occurring peptides and are not easily broken down. An alternative approach to overcoming challenges of chemical synthesis are enzymes, which are natural molecules that speed up chemical reactions. This study identified enzymes that can both synthesise and breakdown the otherwise stable β-peptides. These enzymes, called β-aminopeptidases, were identified from database searches and the Australian biota. Each enzyme had preferences for certain β-amino acid substrates, and synthesised small β-peptides including a self-assembling β-peptide hydrogel.