Engineering lactate dehydrogenase from Lactiplantibacillus plantarum for artificial cofactors utilization with photocatalytic regeneration.

Summary: Scientists are trying to make a useful chemical called D-lactic acid using a special microbe enzyme. Normally, this enzyme needs an expensive natural helper molecule to work. To make the process cheaper and stronger, researchers changed the enzyme's shape so it could use artificial helpers instead. They tested many versions and found a winning enzyme that works perfectly with these fake helpers. They even added a light-powered system to recycle the helpers so they can be used over and over. The result? The new artificial system made a large amount of lactic acid and worked much better than the natural one at high temperatures!