Bacterial biocatalysts play a key role in our transition to a bio-based, post-petroleum economy. However, the discovery of new biocatalysts is currently limited by our ability to analyze genomic information and our capacity of functionally screening for desired activities. Here, we present a simple workflow that combines functional metaproteomics and metagenomics, which facilitates the unmediat...

Nanoformulations can play an important role in the improvement of anticancer drug therapies. The bioavailability sorafenib, which is exclusively applied treatment unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma, may be increased by its incorporation a biocompatible nanoparticulate matrix that capable targeting and controlling release. copolymers ε-caprolactone are emerging biodegradable compounds for del...

The synthesis of two biocatalysts based on a commercial Candida antarctica lipase B, CALB enzyme (E), physically immobilized silica supports, was carried out. first support periodic mesoporous organosilica (PMO) and the second one modified with octyl groups (octyl-MS3030). maximum load 122 mg enzyme/g PMO 288 octyl-MS3030. In addition, biocatalytic efficiency corroborated by reaction tests hydr...

Over the last two decades, directed evolution has become a staple in protein engineering and ushered in a new era of industrial biocatalysis. Directed evolution has provided the tools to not only improve the activity of known biocatalysts, but also to endow biocatalysts with chemical reactivities not previously encountered in nature. Here we will discuss the recent successes in the quest to enh...

Metagenomics has accelerated the process of discovery of novel biocatalysts by enabling scientists to tap directly into the entire diversity of enzymes held within natural microbial populations. Their characterization has revealed a great deal of valuable information about enzymatic activity in terms of factors which influence their stability and activity under a wide range of conditions. Many ...

Feruloyl esterases are a class of enzymes that can be used as biocatalysts for the modification of bioactive hydroxycinnamic acids. In industry, enzyme immobilization is often necessary to stabilize the enzymes and to allow their reuse. Mesoporous materials have become a popular immobilization support due to advantages such as large surface area, high mechanical stability and the possibility of...

Background Candida rugosa Lipase (CRL) shows a very low alkaline stability that comprises its immobilization on glyoxyl-agarose, which requires pH above 10. In this way, an adaptation from the original method was used; an enzyme solution at pH 7 was slowly added at a suspension of glyoxyl-agarose prepared in bicarbonate buffer, pH 10. This change of protocol was enough for allowing the preparat...

After a hierarchical microbial screening process, new microorganisms have been discovered that act as biocatalysts for the stereoselective oxidation of secondary alcohols or for ketone reduction. Oxidation activity is more widespread in yeasts and bacteria, while actinomycetes, filamentous fungi and yeasts present the highest reduction activities. QSAR-3D/CoMFA is an adequate technique to desig...