SPONSORED CONTENT
3 key questions
posed by manufacturing organisations exploring biocatalytic routes
By Dr . Thomas Daussmann , Dr . Marc R . Hayes , Dr . Christoph Strunk , Dr . Daniel Ohde , Enzymaster Deutschland GmbH
From pharmaceuticals , nutraceuticals and agrochemicals to textiles , flavours , fragrances , and numerous other manufacturing sectors , performing effective , efficient and environmentally friendly chemical transformations are essential . As today ’ s process developers design reactions to create increasingly complex substances , they are faced with a reasonably new question : Which catalytic approach best guides the reactions needed to produce the desired substance ? Should the process include biocatalysis , classic chemical catalysis or a combination of the two ? Although enzymes , nature ’ s catalysts , are as old as life itself , wild-type enzymes are rarely useful in commercial processes . However , enzyme engineering , enabling technologies and large-scale enzyme production capabilities have made biocatalysts practical for industrial applications in recent years . In other words , whether to pursue a strategy using a biocatalyst or chemical catalyst is a reasonably new decision . Process developers must consider questions in three fundamental areas — benefits of biocatalytic approaches , partner and technology selection , and service model , cost and intellectual property ( IP ) considerations .
What are the benefits of biocatalysis ?
Transformation efficiency is a primary benefit . Process developers can skip several steps typically required when using chemical catalysts because there is no need for protective group chemistry or substrate activation . Additionally , enzymes ’ extraordinary selectivity is of great benefit . Stereoselectivity , regioselectivity and chemoselectivity due to particular substrate binding facilitates high conversion efficiency , higher yields , fewer by-products and high purity levels . Biocatalysts also address environmental concerns as reactions are conducted in conditions safe for both ecological and human health — neutral conditions without high levels of acidity and ambient temperatures , and the use of heavy metals or other toxic / hazardous additives is not required . Although biocatalytic approaches deliver many benefits and are being increasingly adopted , the strengths of biocatalysts and chemical catalysts are often complementary . They can be effectively combined in cascade reactions , allowing a process to benefit from the best of both worlds .
What are the essential capabilities of an enzyme engineering partner ?
In nature , genes mutate , and wildtype enzymes evolve to improve the fitness of an organism , tackling conditions in new environments . However , to meet the demands of industrial manufacturing , nature needs to be guided , and evolution accelerated . Enabling technologies and scientific understandings have facilitated smart directed evolution enzyme
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