Practical issues in the application of oxygenases.
Trends Biotechnol, 21 (4):
170--177 (April 2003)Abstract
Oxygenases carry out the regio-, stereo- and chemoselective introduction
of oxygen in a tremendous range of organic molecules. This versatility
has already been exploited in several commercial processes. There
are, however, many hurdles to further practical large-scale applications.
Here, we review various issues in biocatalysis using these enzymes,
such as screening strategies, overoxidation, uncoupling, substrate
uptake, substrate toxicity, and oxygen mass transfer. By addressing
these issues in a systematic way, the productivity of promising
laboratory scale biotransformations involving oxygenases may be
improved to levels that allow industry to realise the full commercial
potential of these enzymes.