In the laboratories of the Małopolska Center of Biotechnology of the Jagiellonian University, the Krakow scientists successfully completed the procedure of placing enzymes inside protective “cages” of proteins, from which crystals were subsequently created.

As a result, enzymes can still perform their functions, being protected from adverse environmental factors. The research was conducted by a team of scientists from the Jagiellonian University and Aalto University in Helsinki.

Enzymes play a key role in the cells of the human body, and are also used in industry (e.g. as stain removers in biological washing powders). Enzymes are often very sensitive to external factors and some of them are broken up when they are outside the cellular environment. Thanks to the solution of scientists from the Jagiellonian University, this process can be stopped.

The work was financed mostly by the Homing and TEAM programs of the Foundation for Polish Science.