Thermodynamically and Kinetically Controlled Reactions in Biocatalysis – from Concepts to Perspectives

The enzymatic synthesis of esters and peptides is unfavoured in aqueous solvent systems due to competing hydrolysis. This can be overcome by using energy rich substrate analogues: elimination of a good leaving group temporarily establishes more favourable equilibrium conditions, allowing for (nearly) complete conversion. While kinetically...

Flavin-dependent N-hydroxylating enzymes: Distribution and application

Amino groups derived from naturally abundant amino acids or (di)amines can be used as “shuttles” in nature for oxygen transfer to provide intermediates or products comprising N-O functional groups such as N-hydroxy, oxazine, isoxazolidine, nitro, nitrone, oxime, C-, S-, or N-nitroso, and azoxy units. To this end, molecular oxygen is activated...

Novel oleate hydratases and potential biotechnological applications

Oleate hydratase catalyses the addition of water to the CC double bond of oleic acid to produce (R)-10-hydroxystearic acid. The enzyme requires an FAD cofactor that functions to optimise the active site structure. A wide range of unsaturated fatty acids can be hydrated at the C10 and in some cases the C13 position. The substrate scope can be...

Selective oxyfunctionalisation reactions catalysed by P450 monooxygenases and peroxygenases – A bright future for sustainable chemical synthesis

Heme-dependent oxygenases (i.e. P450 monooxygenases and peroxygenases) are highly selective catalysts for the selective oxyfunctionalisation or organic compounds. Both enzyme classes exhibit mechanistic similarities (i.e. using so-called compound I (CpdI) as active oxidation species) and differences in how CpdI is formed. From the differences...