Wohlgemuth Roland
Faculty of Chemistry, Lodz University of Technology, Zeromskiego Street 116, 90-924 Lodz, Poland.
Swiss Coordination Committee Biotechnology (SKB), 8021 Zurich, Switzerland.
Molecules. 2024 Dec 6;29(23):5772. doi: 10.3390/molecules29235772.
Enzyme catalysis was traditionally used by various human cultures to create value long before its basic concepts were uncovered. This was achieved by transforming the raw materials available from natural resources into useful products. Tremendous scientific and technological progress has been made globally in understanding what constitutes an enzyme; what reactions enzymes can catalyze; and how to search, develop, apply, and improve enzymes to make desired products. The useful properties of enzymes as nature's preferred catalysts, such as their high selectivity, diversity, and adaptability, enable their optimal function, whether in single or multiple reactions. Excellent opportunities for the resource-efficient manufacturing of compounds are provided by the actions of enzymes working in reaction cascades and pathways within the same reaction space, like molecular robots along a production line. Enzyme catalysis plays an increasingly prominent role in industrial innovation and responsible production in various areas, such as green and sustainable chemistry and industrial or white biotechnology. Sources of inspiration include current manufacturing or supply chain challenges, the treasure of natural enzymes, and opportunities to engineer tailor-made enzymes. Making the best use of the power of enzyme catalysis is essential for changing how current products are manufactured; how renewable biobased resources can replace fossil-based resources; and improving the safety, health, and environmental aspects of manufacturing processes to support cleaner and more sustainable production.
早在酶催化的基本概念被揭示之前，各种人类文化就传统地利用酶催化来创造价值。这是通过将自然资源中可得的原材料转化为有用的产品来实现的。在全球范围内，在理解什么构成一种酶、酶能催化哪些反应以及如何搜索、开发、应用和改进酶以制造所需产品方面已经取得了巨大的科学技术进步。酶作为自然界首选催化剂的有用特性，如高选择性、多样性和适应性，使其无论在单一反应还是多个反应中都能发挥最佳功能。在同一反应空间内的反应级联和途径中起作用的酶的行为，就像生产线上的分子机器人一样，为资源高效制造化合物提供了绝佳机会。酶催化在绿色和可持续化学以及工业或白色生物技术等各个领域的工业创新和负责任生产中发挥着越来越突出的作用。灵感来源包括当前制造或供应链挑战、天然酶宝库以及设计定制酶的机会。充分利用酶催化的力量对于改变当前产品的制造方式、可再生生物基资源如何取代化石基资源以及改善制造过程的安全、健康和环境方面以支持更清洁、更可持续的生产至关重要。
