The Golden Gate strategy entails the use of type IIS restriction enzymes, which cut outside of their recognition sequence. It enables unrestricted design of unique DNA fragments that can be readily and seamlessly recombined. Successfully employed in other synthetic biology applications, we demonstrate its advantageous use to engineer a biocatalyst. Hot-spots for mutations were individuated in t...

The design of biocatalytic processes for industrial synthetic chemistry is determined in large part by the choice of isolated enzyme or whole-cell catalyst form. In the present paper, the considerations for choice are identified and some important classes of bioconversion are discussed in relation to the choice to be made. Recent developments in cell and protein engineering as well as reactor a...

Controlled, selective oxidations of unactivated C H bonds are among the most desired transformations in catalysis. Limitations to chemical oxidation catalysts include low turnover numbers, low or no regioselectivity, poor reaction specificity, their use of environmentally harmful components (for example, heavy metals or halogens), or their requirements for harsh, expensive reaction conditions. ...

Nitrile compounds are found everywhere in nature. They are synthesized naturally as well as xenobiotically. Nitrilases are nitrile degrading enzymes and belong to nitrilase superfamily. They convert nitriles into corresponding acids in a single step pathway. Members of this superfamily are present in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes and have characteristics αββα fold. They pose conserved Cystein...

According to previous quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) studies, camphor hydroxylation in cytochrome P450 is catalysed by a single water molecule which lowers the computed B3LYP/CHARMM barrier by about 4 kcal mol(-1). Gas-phase B3LYP model studies for a variety of different substrates show the generality of this effect. Its origin is an electrostatic enhancement of hydrogen bonding ...

Cellulases are a class of enzymes great industrial interest that present several strategic applications. However, the high cost enzyme production, coupled with instabilities and complexities proteins required for hydrolytic processes, still limits their use in protocols. Therefore, immobilization may be an essential tool to overcome these issues. The work aimed evaluate cellulolytic commercial ...

Escherichia coli has the potential to be a powerful biocatalyst for the conversion of lignocellulosic biomass into useful materials such as biofuels and polymers. One important challenge in using E. coli for the transformation of biomass sugars is diauxie, or sequential utilization of different types of sugars. We demonstrate that, by increasing the intracellular levels of the transcription fac...

The problem of environmental pollution becomes more worrisome day by day, primarily due to the large amounts of wastewater contaminated with various harmful organic compounds, discharged untreated or partially clean into the environment. Feasibility of use of horseradish peroxidase (Amoracia rusticana) in the synthetic dyes decolorization was approved by many researchers. Among a number of supp...

Peroxidases have turned out to be potential biocatalyst for a variety of organic reactions. The research work reported in this communication was done with the objective of finding a convenient rich source of peroxidase which could be used as a biocatalyst for organic synthetic reactions. The studies made have shown that Luffa aegyptiaca (gourd) fruit juice contains peroxidase activity of the or...

Norcoclaurine synthase (NCS) is a Pictet-Spenglerase that catalyzes the first key step in plant benzylisoquinoline alkaloid metabolism, a compound family that includes bioactive natural products such as morphine. The enzyme has also shown great potential as a biocatalyst for the formation of chiral isoquinolines. Here we present new high-resolution X-ray crystallography data describing Thalictr...