Extreme Biocatalysts: From Basic Research to Biotechnological Applications 2.0
A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Biochemistry".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 August 2024 | Viewed by 223
Special Issue Editor
Interests: industrial enzymology; extremozymes; biocatalysis; biorefinery; biomass valorisation; enzymatic recycling of plastics; protein engineering; CRISPR-based applications; virus biotechnology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
This Special Issue is a continuation of our previous Special Issue “Extreme Biocatalysts: From Basic Research to Biotechnological Applications” (https://www.mdpi.com/journal/ijms/special_issues/Extreme_Biocatalysts).
Biocatalysts show remarkable features that are revolutionizing, among other areas, the chemical, energy, agricultural, and pharmaceutical industries. Indeed, their use can pave the way to the design and optimization of sustainable industrial processes, which are at the very foundation of a timely and urgently needed shift towards a circular economy. The use of isolated enzymes or whole-cell biocatalysts has broadened the plethora of possible applications, allowing for the performance of chemo- and regioselective reactions, which is a major holdback in the chemical industry. Despite their vast potential in biotechnological applications, biocatalysts are currently used only for a limited number of industrial processes. This is mainly due to the narrow ranges of enzymatic stability towards critical parameters, such as temperature, pH, pressure, salinity, water activity, etc. Microorganisms thriving under extreme environmental conditions (collectively known as extremophiles), as well as the enzymes derived from them (extremozymes), can be used to overcome the aforementioned limitations.
With this Special Issue, we aim to collect original research articles, review articles, and short communications dealing with the study of extreme biocatalysts (both isolated enzymes and whole-cell biocatalysts). We welcome fundamental studies investigating the molecular basis underpinning the unique features of extremozymes as well as reports about their exploitation for biotechnological applications (industrial, diagnostic, environmental, etc.). Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Discovery of new extremozymes (including thermophilic, psychrophilic, acidophilic, alkalophilic, halophilic, and polyextremophilic enzymes).
- Functional and/or structural characterization of extremozymes
- Development of enzyme assays for discovery, screening, and characterization.
- Protein engineering for the optimization of extremozymes’ catalytical features.
- Bioprospecting of extremozymes.
- Extremozyme cascades to produce fine and bulk chemicals.
- Discovery, design, optimization, and/or exploitation of extreme whole-cell biocatalysts.
- Extremophiles as factories of commodity and specialty enzymes.
- Extreme biocatalysts for circular economy applications.
Dr. Salvatore Fusco
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
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Keywords
- whole-cell biocatalysts
- extremozymes
- enzyme assays
- protein engineering
- extremophiles
