Improving and repurposing biocatalysts via directed evolution

Carl A Denard; Hengqian Ren; Huimin Zhao

doi:10.1016/j.cbpa.2014.12.036

Improving and repurposing biocatalysts via directed evolution

Curr Opin Chem Biol. 2015 Apr:25:55-64. doi: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2014.12.036. Epub 2015 Jan 8.

Authors

Carl A Denard¹, Hengqian Ren¹, Huimin Zhao²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, United States.
² Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, United States; Department of Chemistry, Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, United States; Department of Biochemistry, Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, United States; Department of Bioengineering, Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, United States. Electronic address: zhao5@illinois.edu.

PMID: 25579451
DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2014.12.036

Abstract

Over the last two decades, directed evolution has become a staple in protein engineering and ushered in a new era of industrial biocatalysis. Directed evolution has provided the tools to not only improve the activity of known biocatalysts, but also to endow biocatalysts with chemical reactivities not previously encountered in nature. Here we will discuss the recent successes in the quest to enhance thermostability, stereoselectivity and activity of biocatalysts, as well as to create novel enzymes, over the last two years.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
Review

MeSH terms

Biocatalysis*
Directed Molecular Evolution / methods*
Enzymes / chemistry
Enzymes / genetics
Enzymes / metabolism
Protein Engineering

Substances

Enzymes