Enzymes In Nonaqueous Solvents

Enzymatic catalysis has gained considerable attention in recent years as an efficient tool in the preparation of natural products, pharmaceuticals, fine chemicals, and food ingredients. The high selectivity and mild reaction con- tions associated with enzymatic transformations have made this approach an attractive alternative in the synthesis of complex bioactive compounds, which are often difficult to obtain by standard chemical routes. However, the maj- ity of organic compounds are not very soluble in water, which was traditi- ally perceived as the only suitable reaction medium for the application of biocatalysts. The realization that most enzymes can function perfectly well under nearly anhydrous conditions and, in addition, display a number of useful properties, e. g. , highly enhanced stability and different selectivity, has d- matically widened the scope of their application to the organic synthesis. Another great attraction of using organic solvents rather than water as a reaction solvent is the ability to perform synthetic transformations with re- tively inexpensive hydrolytic enzymes. It is worth reminding the reader that in vivo, the synthetic and hydrolytic pathways are catalyzed by different enzymes. However, elimination of water from the reaction mixture enables the “reversal” of hydrolytic enzymes and thus avoids the use of the expensive cofactors or activated substrates that are required for their synthetic count- parts.

In Enzymes in Nonaqueous Solvents: Methods and Protocols, leading chemists, biochemists, biotechnologists, and process engineers summarize for the first time a wide range of methods for executing enzymatic transformations under nonaqueous conditions. Each method includes detailed step-by-step instructions for its successful completion, a list of materials, and ancillary notes that explain the scientific basis of the procedure, as well as troubleshooting. Also provided are a generic description of key reactions, advice on biocatalyst preparation, discussion of reaction conditions, and instructions on bioreactor design. Comprehensive and state-of-the-art, Enzymes in Nonaqueous Solvents: Methods and Protocols offers today's synthetic chemists, biochemists, and process engineers all the essential information needed to carry out enzymatic reactions in nonaqueous media, as well as to successfully scale up to production quantities.

Extending the range of enzymatic catalysis by using non-aqueous media has now developed into a powerful approach in biochemistry and biotechnology. One peculiar feature which distinguishes it from the conventional enzymology (carried out in aqueous buffers) is that the awareness of different parameters that control and influence the behaviour of enzymes in such environments has emerged rather slowly. Science is about being able to repeat what somebody else has done. Absence of knowledge about such well-defined parameters/fac tors has sometimes made some workers rather cautious and diffident about using this approach in their laboratories. But for this, non-aqueous enzymol ogy would be more widely practised. It is these thoughts that made me feel that the availability of some well-defined protocols for various applications invol ving enzymes in non-aqueous environments would further catalyze the growth of this area. Hence this book, in which each chapter has some protocols in a specific area. The protocols are preceded by brief background material. The early chapters, which are of general importance, concern control of water ac tivity and stabilization via immobilization. Some subsequent chapters provide the protocols for transformations involving lipids and carbohydrates, peptide synthesis, and preparation of chiral compounds. The disproportionate focus on lipases is not a coincidence; this class of enzymes has been used more often than others in non-aqueous enzymology.

Closing a gap in the literature, this comprehensive book examines and discusses different non-aqueous systems from organic solvents to ionic liquids for synthetic applications, thus opening the door to new successful methods for biocatalytic reactions. It gathers into one handy source the information otherwise widely spread throughout the literature, combining useful background information with a number of synthetic examples, including industrial scale processes for pharmaceutical and fine chemicals. Extremely well structured, the text introduces the fundamentals of non-aqueous enzymology, before going on to new reaction media and synthetic applications using hydrolases and non-hydrolytic enzymes. The one-stop reference for everyone working in this hot field.

This volume addresses the key topics: nonaqueous enzymology in general and protein design for organic solvents in particular, and enzymatic synthesis of carbon-carbon bonds, novel oligosaccharides, and modified steroids. It is a valuable source to experienced as well as potential users of enzymes.

Biomolecules and Organic Solvents discusses the behavior of enzymes and multi-enzyme complexes in organic solvents, in addition to the problem of water-protein interactions and the characteristics of water at interphases. It attempts to bridge the gap between the all water and the organic solvents systems from the point of view of enzyme structure and function. The mechanism of action of enzymes dispersed in anhydrous organic solvents and the biotechnological perspectives of the field are evaluated, and new information regarding the function and characteristics of complex multi-enzymatic systems and whole cells in organic solvents are examined. New developments regarding the nature of the water pool and interphases of reverse micelles and their enzyme kinetics are also explored. The characteristics and properties of enzymes trapped in reverse micelles are discussed throughout the book. Biomolecules in Organic Solvents is essential reading for biochemists, molecular biologists, and others working in related fields.

This is one volume 'library' of information on molecular biology, molecular medicine, and the theory and techniques for understanding, modifying, manipulating, expressing, and synthesizing biological molecules, conformations, and aggregates. The purpose is to assist the expanding number of scientists entering molecular biology research and biotechnology applications from diverse backgrounds, including biology and medicine, as well as physics, chemistry, mathematics, and engineering.

Understanding Enzymes: Function, Design, Engineering, and Analysis focuses on the understanding of enzyme function and optimization gained in the past decade, past enzyme function analysis, enzyme engineering, and growing insights from the simulation work and nanotechnology measurement of enzymes in action in vitro or in silico. The book also presents new insights into the mechanistic function and understanding of enzyme reactions, as well as touching upon structural characteristics, including X-ray and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) structural methods. A major focus of the book is enzyme molecules’ dependency on dynamic and biophysical environmental impacts on their function in ensembles as well as single molecules. A wide range of readers, including academics, professionals, PhD and master’s students, industry experts, and chemists, will immensely benefit from this exclusive book.