Non-aqueous homogeneous biocatalysis

TORRES SEBASTIÁN; CASTRO GUILLERMO R.

FOOD TECHNOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY

Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology - University of Zagreb

Lugar: Zagreb, Croatia; Año: 2004 vol. 42 p. 271 - 277

1330-9862

Enzymes are highly specific catalysts that typically function in aqueous solvents. However, many enzymes retain their catalytic activities at high concentrations in non--aqueous environments, including neat hydrophilic organic solvents. In fact, enzymes can be used to carry out reactions in organic solvents that are not possible in aqueous systems. Therefore, biocatalysis in homogenous non-aqueous solvents offers possibilities for producing useful chemicals and several synthetic reactions have already been developed using this type of system. The current review discusses factors that influence enzyme catalysis in non-aqueous solvents such us water content, solvent concentration, interaction of solvent with protein structure, stability and activity. Also, new strategies for non-conventional biocatalysis using extremophiles and ionic solvents are mentioned.