Enzyme Engineering—the Core of Biocatalysis
A special issue of Catalysts (ISSN 2073-4344). This special issue belongs to the section "Biocatalysis".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 March 2025 | Viewed by 60
Special Issue Editors
Interests: chemical biology; protein structure; enzyme engineering
Interests: biocatalysis; protein conformation; analysis of food samples
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Enzyme engineering is a pivotal aspect of biocatalysis, focusing on modifying enzymes to enhance their efficiency for industrial, medical, and environmental applications. In organic synthesis, enzymes offer significant advantages over traditional chemical catalysts, such as higher specificity, milder operating conditions, and a reduced environmental footprint. Among the various strategies to optimize enzyme performance for specific industrial uses, enzyme engineering is crucial for developing new enzymes with improved activity, stability under diverse and extreme conditions, and enhanced enantio- and regioselectivity.
Enzyme engineering can be achieved through techniques like directed evolution, rational design, and phylogenetic methods. Directed evolution mimics natural selection by creating enzyme variants through random mutations and selecting those with desirable traits, while rational design involves introducing targeted changes based on detailed knowledge of enzyme structure and function. Phylogenetic methods leverage evolutionary relationships between protein sequences to guide the design process, focusing on conserved regions and predicting beneficial mutations.
Engineered enzymes are instrumental in the development of sustainable technologies, enabling the efficient production of valuable chemicals while minimizing environmental impact. By improving enzyme performance, enzyme engineering plays a critical role in advancing biocatalysis, providing eco-friendly solutions, and driving innovation in green chemistry. It is essential for addressing various industrial challenges while promoting sustainable and environmentally conscious practices.
This special issue aims to collect papers presenting studies where enzymes have been engineered, characterized, and eventually applied for organic synthesis.
Prof. Dr. Xi Chen
Prof. Dr. Francesco Secundo
Guest Editors
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Keywords
- enzyme engineering
- biocatalysis
- directed evolution
- rational design
- enzyme modification
- industrial applications
- catalytic efficiency
- sustainable technologies
- renewable chemicals
- green chemistry
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