Biocatalysis progresses

The use of ionic liquids (ILs) to replace organic or aqueous solvents in biocatalysis processes has recently gained much attention and great progress has been accomplished in this area lipase-catalyzed reactions in an IL solvent system have now been established and several examples of biotransformation in this novel reaction medium have also been reported. Recent developments in the application of ILs as solvents in enzymatic reactions are reviewed. 

Current research is in progress in our laboratory on biocatalysis in two-phase media with j6-glycosidases, yeast, and enzymes of the lipoxygenase pathway. 

This chapter will consider some of the most interesting of current approaches to the evolution of enzyme mimics, in the context of continuing dramatic progress in protein and nucleotide engineering. There are excellent practical as well as intellectual reasons for the broad interest in this topic. Catalysis is a major preoccupation of the chemical industry if the application of the principles of biocatalysis can lead to robust and efficient catalysts tailor-made for reactions of economic importance the area will become even more a focus of intense activity and investment. 

Vofi H,Miethe P (1992) Enzymes entrapped in liquid crystals a novel approach for bio-catalysis in nonaqueous media. In Tramper J, Vermae MH, Beet HH, Stockar UV (eds) Biocatalysis in non-conventional media, progress in biotechnology. Elsevier, London 8 739... 

Further progress will most likely include other types of reactions and new types of polymers as well as new solvent-stable nanofiltration membranes. Another promising field is the combination of chemo- and biocatalysis in cascade reactions... 

The goal of this review is to highlight a progress in the transition-metal chemistry of some enzymes that catalyze oxidative and reductive reactions. These enzymes are referred to as oxidoreductases (1,2) and transition metals are usually found in their active sites. However, the discussion will not be devoted to these metals, which are absolutely essential for biocatalysis. Such information is brilliantly summarized in several recent fundamental reviews and monographs (3-9). 

Matsuda T, Yamanaka R et al (2009) Recent progress in biocatalysis for asymmetric oxidation and reduction. Tetrahedron Asymmetry 20 513-557... 

When comparing chemical and biocatalytic methods, one could say that, especially for asymmetric oxidations, enzymatic methods enter the scene. This is most evident in the area of asymmetric Baeyer-Villiger oxidation, where biocatalysts take the lead and homogeneous chiral catalysts lag far behind in terms of ee values. Significant progress can be expected in the area of biocatalysis due to the advancement in enzyme production technologies and the possibility of tailor-made enzymes. 

The aspects discussed will mainly focus on progress resulting from the transnational cooperation by the research groups of the authors within a CERC3 research program in cooperation with the COST Action D25-Applied Biocatalysis. 

Since 1996, micellar catalysis (Section 3.1.11) has made progress in the same time as supercritical fluids (Section 3.1.13) have come to the fore. Suffice it to say that biocatalysis and enzyme-analogous processes enjoy an exponential growth that has significance both to basic science and to industry (Section 3.2.1). 

During the last two decades tremendous progress has been made in the field of biocatalysis. This chapter is not intended as a comprehensive review, but rather a presentation of the scope, potential and limitations of the highly interdisciplinary approach of biocatalysis. 

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