Recently, a new class of oxidases was described, Lytic Polysaccharide Monooxygenase (LPMO), that are copper-associated metalloenzymes that catalyze the conversion of crystalline polysaccharides such as chitin and cellulose by oxidative cleavage of their β-(1 → 4) glycosidic bond 15, 16, resulting in the selective oxidation of C1 and C4 carbons 17, 18. These enzymes promote fiber disruption and chemical functionalization in a highly selective manner.
Numerous enzymes have been described to act on biomass including cellulases, laccases, chitinases, transglutaminases, transaminases, expansins, among others. Both have been suggested as the source of valuable materials for numerous applications 11, 12, 13, 14. Cellulose is present in plants, while chitin is found in crustaceans, insects, and fungi. They are highly abundant biopolymers in Nature.
H2so4 molar mass upgrade#
Therefore, searching for enzymes with the ability to upgrade rather than degrade materials stands up like a challenge for enzyme design techniques.Ĭellulose and chitin are well suited for enzyme transformation into high-performance materials. Additionally, enzyme design and search techniques have not focused on optimizing the interaction of enzymes with materials for transforming them into a distinctive material with properties unattainable by conventional non-selective chemical and physical treatments. However, this potential remains largely unexplored. Interestingly, multiple enzymes have the potential for upgrading and even creating novel high-tech functional materials 9, 10. Conversely, material science involves established chemical, physical and engineering procedures to transform and design novel materials, often by assembling small molecules used as building blocks 8.
Prominent examples are the enzymatic transformation, under specific conditions, of biomass into smaller molecules such as sugars, lignin, and chitosan 6, 7.
In the biotechnology industry, enzymes are the basis of complex substrate transformations into valuable chemicals for a myriad of applications, ranging from bioenergy to food industry 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
0 kommentar(er)
