Structure Guided Directed Evolution of Enzymes

Our ability to tailor enzymatic properties is a critical factor for biocatalyst application in the industrial sector. Although many wild-type enzymes have been found capable of promiscuously catalysing desired anthropogenic reactions, their activity and selectivity for non-natural transformations is often poor. Consequently, it is crucial to...

Insights into E. coli Cyclopropane Fatty Acid Synthase (CFAS) Towards Enantioselective Carbene Free Biocatalytic Cyclopropanation.

Cyclopropane fatty acid synthases (CFAS) are a class of S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) dependent methyltransferase enzymes able to catalyse the cyclopropanation of unsaturated phospholipids. Since CFAS enzymes employ SAM as a methylene source to cyclopropanate alkene substrates, they have the potential to be mild and more sustainable biocatalysts...

Natural deep eutectic solvents as performance additives for biocatalysis

Following ionic liquids, (natural) deep eutectic solvents ((NA)DES) are receiving significant attention as performance additives for biocatalytic reactions. (NA)DES are increasingly evaluated as solvents to replace water in hydrolase-catalyzed esterification reactions thereby shifting the reaction equilibrium. They also frequently outperform...

Cleas, combi-cleas and ‘smart’ magnetic cleas: Biocatalysis in a bio-based economy

Biocatalysis has emerged in the last decade as a pre-eminent technology for enabling the envisaged transition to a more sustainable bio-based economy. For industrial viability it is essential that enzymes can be readily recovered and recycled by immobilization as solid, recyclable catalysts. One method to achieve this is via carrier-free...