Enzyme Cascades for Sustainable Chemical Synthesis

• Grant number: 24/18327-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• Start date: May 01, 2025
• End date: April 30, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biochemistry - Enzymology
• Principal Investigator: Leticia Maria Zanphorlin
• Grantee: Vandierly Sampaio de Melo
• Supervisor: Frank Hollmann
• Host Institution: Centro Nacional de Pesquisa em Energia e Materiais (CNPEM). Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Inovação (Brasil). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Delft University of Technology (TU Delft), Netherlands
• Associated to the scholarship: 21/14726-0 - Discovery and development of oxidative enzymes for the in vivo biosynthesis of hydrocarbons, BP.DR

Abstract

Building a bio-based economy is essential for tackling climate change and reducing the reliance on fossil fuels. One promising approach is converting agricultural and industrial residues into valuable products using biotechnology, which offers more sustainable and cleaner production processes. In this regard, the research groups of Dr. Zanphorlin from LNBR/CNPEM and Dr. Hollmann from TU Delft have made significant contributions by studying oxidoreductases, particularly monooxygenases and peroxygenases. These enzymes catalyze oxyfunctionalization reactions, transforming non-activated C-H, C-C, or C=C bonds into functional molecules, which serve as precursors for diverse value-added products. The proposed project aims to leverage this expertise by developing an innovative bi-enzymatic cascade that combines desaturative decarboxylation and epoxidation for the efficient production of alkenes and epoxides. In this cascade, the enzyme OleTPRN from Rothia Nasimurium will first catalyze the decarboxylation of fatty acids into terminal alkenes. The produced alkenes will then undergo stereoselective epoxidation catalyzed by the enzyme SfStyA from Sphingopyxis fribergensis Kp5.2 in the presence of photoexcited flavins. The two-step process in this project aims not only to produce epoxides but also to achieve in situ production of hydrogen peroxide (H¿O¿), a co-substrate of OleTPRN, through a photoactivation system. By generating H¿O¿ within the reaction system, the process eliminates the need for external H¿O¿ addition, enhancing the overall sustainability and minimizing the use of hazardous chemicals. This collaborative project not only strengthens the scientific partnership between CNPEM/LNBR and TU Delft but also offers a unique opportunity for the Ph.D. candidate to acquire advanced knowledge in enzyme cascades for sustainable chemical synthesis, as well as in situ H¿O¿ production via photoreaction systems. Ultimately, this research will contribute to the development of sustainable technologies that replace petroleum-derived products.