Isomerase unveils cutting edge enzyme platform
EvoSelect® forms part of Isomerase’s broader IsoZym™ platform, an end-to-end offering that spans protein design, expression, and scale-up.
EvoSelect® harnesses evolutionary information embedded in enzyme families to generate novel sequences with improved properties. By analysing sequence alignments and evolutionary couplings - correlated mutations that suggest functional or structural interdependencies between residues - the platform identifies regions where targeted changes are most likely to enhance enzyme performance without destabilising the protein.
This allows EvoSelect® to propose higher fitness variants that retain or improve functionality under diverse industrial conditions, such as high temperatures, extreme pH, or solvent exposure. Compared to conventional random mutagenesis or trial-and-error workflows, this approach narrows down the mutation space and prioritises sequences with the highest probability of success.
This allows researchers to focus laboratory resources on the most promising candidates, reducing development timelines and increasing the likelihood of success.
Importantly, EvoSelect® generates enzymes with less than 80 per cent sequence identity to the seed sequence. This helps clients avoid crowded intellectual property spaces and provides opportunities to develop differentiated, patentable biocatalysts.
Enzymes used in industrial, pharmaceutical, and specialty chemical settings are often limited by performance under harsh or non-native conditions. EvoSelect® addresses these challenges by integrating data from public databases and Isomerase’s proprietary sequence collection from metabolic-rich and extremophile strains.
The result is a smarter way to engineer enzymes that maintain function where conventional biocatalysts would fail (including high temperature, extreme pH, or solvent-rich environments). In addition to improving stability, EvoSelect® enhances resistance to inactivation and extends catalytic lifespans, helping reduce the overall cost of biocatalytic steps in manufacturing.
EvoSelect® is not a standalone design engine — it’s tightly integrated into a broader protein production workflow. Following machine learning-guided optimisation and codon adaptation, 20–40 enzyme variants are expressed in Isomerase’s IsoChassis™ microbial hosts (e.g., Escherichia coli, Pichia pastoris, or Bacillus subtilis) or via the ProteoSynth® cell-free expression system.
The highest fitness candidates are screened for activity and expression and the lead variant is selected for scale-up. Using high-density fermentation methods, Isomerase can deliver 1–10 grams of material — all within ~8 weeks of receiving the target sequence.
The service is offered royalty-free, allowing clients to commercialise without downstream licensing obligations. Matthew Gregory is CEO of the Chesterford Research Park-based business.