Metagenomics has opened new avenues for exploring the genetic potential of uncultured microorganisms, which may serve as promising sources of enzymes and natural products for industrial applications. Identifying enzymes with improved catalytic properties from the vast amount of available metagenomic data poses a significant challenge that demands the development of novel computational and functional screening tools. The catalytic properties of all enzymes are primarily dictated by their structures, which are predominantly determined by their amino acid sequences. However, this aspect has not been fully considered in the enzyme bioprospecting processes. With the accumulating number of available enzyme sequences and the increasing demand for discovering novel biocatalysts, structural and functional modeling can be employed to identify potential enzymes with novel catalytic properties. Recent efforts to discover new polysaccharide-degrading enzymes from rumen metagenome data using homology-based searches and machine learning-based models have shown significant promise. Here, we will explore various computational approaches that can be employed to screen and shortlist metagenome-derived enzymes as potential biocatalyst candidates, in conjunction with the wet lab analytical methods traditionally used for enzyme characterization.

Background: CDC27 is one of the core components of Anaphase Promoting complex/cyclosome. The main role of this protein is defined at cellular division to control cell cycle transitions. Here we review the molecular aspects that may affect CDC27 regulation from cell cycle and mitosis to cancer pathogenesis and prognosis.Main text: It has been suggested that CDC27 may play either like a tumor suppressor gene or oncogene in different neoplasms. Divergent variations inCDC27DNA sequence and alterations in transcription ofCDC27have been detected in different solid tumors and hematological malignancies. ElevatedCDC27expression level may increase cell proliferation, invasiveness and metastasis in some malignancies. It has been proposed thatCDC27upregulation may increase stemness in cancer stem cells. On the other hand, downregulation ofCDC27may increase the cancer cell survival, decrease radiosensitivity and increase chemoresistancy. In addition,CDC27downregulation may stimulate efferocytosis and improve tumor microenvironment.Conclusion: CDC27 dysregulation, either increased or decreased activity, may aggravate neoplasms. CDC27 may be suggested as a prognostic biomarker in different malignancies.