OPRD (2026): “Bioinformatics-Guided Immobilization of a Peptide Ligase for Continuous Flow Chemoenzymatic Synthesis of Semaglutide”
Chemoenzymatic peptide synthesis offers a sustainable alternative to traditional solid-phase peptide synthesis for manufacturing therapeutic peptides such as semaglutide. However, cost-efficient industrial implementation requires enzyme immobilization to enable the catalyst recovery and continuous processing. This work presents the first demonstration of a bioinformatics-guided immobilization strategy for a peptiligase variant, successfully applied in a continuous-flow packed-bed […]
Catalysis Today (2026): “Keeping Catalysts Apart: Phase Separation Enables Metal–Enzyme Cofactor Regeneration cascade”
The integration of organometallic and enzymatic catalysis in one pot is often limited by mutual inhibition between metal complexes and enzymes, particularly in NAD(P)⁺-dependent redox cascades that require efficient cofactor regeneration. Here we report a family of IrCp* pyridinium-amidate (PYA) complexes that regenerate NAD(P)H in aqueous media. Systematic tuning of the pyridinium and phenolate substituents […]
Chem Comm (2026): “Thermally reversible Diels–Alder linkers enable reusable methacrylate supports for enzyme immobilisation”
Abstract: Spent enzyme immobilisation resins constitute microplastic waste. Here, commercially available C2‑amine methacrylate beads are converted into reusable supports through furan decoration and a thermally cleavable Diels–Alder linker bearing an NHS ester. The enzyme–linker assembly is removed by retro‑Diels–Alder reaction, regenerating the support over multiple cycles. Well done to Manos for bringing this home! Read […]
Advanced Synthesis and Catalysis (2026): “Biocatalytic Application of Goodfellowiella coeruleoviolacea Imine Reductase: Enantioselective Synthesis of Cyclic Secondary Amines in Deep Eutectic Solvent-Based Media”
The development of sustainable strategies for accessing optically pure amines is essential for pharmaceutical and fine-chemical manufacturing. Here, we report the characterization of a newly identified imine reductase from Goodfellowiella coeruleoviolacea (GcIRED) and its application to the asymmetric reduction of cyclic imines in deep eutectic solvent based media. GcIRED displayed excellent catalytic performance in choline […]
ChemCatChem (2026): “Mining for Novel Tryptophanase A: extremophilic organism Ardenticatena maritima and Haloarcula japonica as alternatives to E. coli in the synthesis of tryptophan analogues”
ChemCatChem (2026): “Mining for Novel Tryptophanase A: extremophilic organism Ardenticatena maritima and Haloarcula japonica as alternatives to E. coli in the synthesis of tryptophan analogues” Tryptophan (Trp) analogues are a subgroup of noncanonical amino acids (ncAAs), which are increasingly valued in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries. Biocatalytic approaches to the preparation of enantiopure Trp analogues […]
Catalysis Science and Technology (2026): “Functional characterization and substrate scope expansion of novel cytochrome P450 homologues using a Fdx-FdR fusion system”
Catalysis Science and Technology (2026): “Functional characterization and substrate scope expansion of novel cytochrome P450 homologues using a Fdx-FdR fusion system” “Cytochrome P450 monooxygenases of the CYP153A family are promising biocatalysts for selective C–H hydroxylation, yet their application is often limited by restricted substrate scope and challenges in electron-transfer compatibility. In this study, four CYP153A […]
J. Chem Ed (2026): “Introducing Enzyme Immobilization and Flow Biocatalysis to the Undergraduate Curriculum”
An undergraduate flow biocatalysis laboratory practical experiment was developed to introduce to the students the basics of enzyme characterization, enzyme immobilization, and continuous flow processes, from a practical approach. The practical was structured in two parts─enzyme immobilization and flow biocatalysis─and intended to be executed over 4 afternoons. Within this practical, the students were able to […]
ACS Omega (2026): “Mechanistic insights into lysine cyclodeaminase catalysis”
Lysine cyclodeaminase (LCD) catalyzes the conversion of l-lysine into l-pipecolic acid, a key building block for food additives and pharmaceutical intermediates. Despite its industrial relevance, LCD displays a narrow substrate scope, efficiently converting l-lysine, while bulkier derivatives such as l-lysine ethyl ester fail to undergo productive biotransformation. To elucidate the molecular origin of this selectivity […]
Current Opinion (2026): “Photobiocatalysis in 2024–2025: Unlocking New-to-Nature Transformations via Excited-State Enzyme Chemistry”
The integration of biocatalysis with photochemistry, known as photobiocatalysis, represents a critical revolution in asymmetric synthesis by unlocking new-to-nature transformations via electronically excited states. This mini-review focusses on the most impactful developments in photobiocatalysis during 2024–2025. We highlight three core strategies: 1) The excitation of cofactors or intermediates, 2) the cooperative catalysis utilizing an exogenous […]
Chemical Science (2026): “Going full circle: Dynamic covalent enzyme immobilisation via visually trackable boronate esters”
Abstract: Enzyme immobilisation on solid supports enables biocatalyst recycling but generates significant waste due to single-use resins that are discarded when enzyme activity declines. Here we report a reversible immobilisation strategy based on boronate ester formation between alizarin-functionalised enzymes and boronic acid-modified supports. Alizarin-methyliminodiacetic acid (alizarin-IDA) serves dual roles as both a pH-responsive binding handle […]