Biocatalytic reductions: from lab curiosity to "first choice"

Acc Chem Res. 2007 Dec;40(12):1260-6. doi: 10.1021/ar7001073. Epub 2007 Oct 18.

Abstract

Enzyme-catalyzed reductions have been studied for decades and have been introduced in more than 10 industrial processes for production of various chiral alcohols, alpha-hydroxy acids and alpha-amino acids. The earlier hurdle of expensive cofactors was taken by the development of highly efficient cofactor regeneration methods. In addition, the accessible number of suitable dehydrogenases and therefore the versatility of this technology is constantly increasing and currently expanding beyond asymmetric production of alcohols and amino acids. Access to a large set of enzymes for highly selective C=C reductions and reductive amination of ketones for production of chiral secondary amines and the development of improved D-selective amino acid dehydrogenases will fuel the next wave of industrial bioreduction processes.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Alcohols / chemistry
  • Amino Acids / chemistry
  • Catalysis
  • Coenzymes / chemistry
  • Keto Acids / chemistry
  • Ketones / chemistry
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Oxidoreductases / chemistry*

Substances

  • Alcohols
  • Amino Acids
  • Coenzymes
  • Keto Acids
  • Ketones
  • Oxidoreductases