Algae as living biocatalysts for a green industry

Date:
July 2, 2020
Source:
Ruhr-University Bochum
Summary:
Many substances that we use every day only work in the right 3D
structure. Natural enzymes could produce these in an environmentally
friendly way - if they didn't need a co-substrate that is expensive
to produce to date. A research team has now discovered exactly
the necessary enzymes in unicellular green algae.



FULL STORY ========================================================================== Better still: living algae can be used as biocatalysts for certain
substances, and they bring the co-substrate along, producing it in
an environmentally friendly manner through photosynthesis. The team
published its report in Algal Research on 17. June 2020.


==========================================================================
It's a question of 3D structure Many chemical substances in cosmetics,
food or medicines can assume slightly different three-dimensional
structures, with only one of them generating the desired fragrance or
medical effect. The chemical production of the right substances is often
not environmentally friendly, as it requires high temperatures or special solvents. In nature, however, certain proteins do exist that produce
the required product at mild temperatures and in water. In the process,
they often generate exactly the 3D structure of the substance that is
needed by the industry.

These so-called old yellow enzymes, OYEs for short, owe their name
to their naturally yellow colour. They occur in bacteria, fungi and
plants, are in part well studied and offer considerable potential for
a bio-based economy. However, they have one disadvantage: in order to
carry out their reaction, they need the co-substrate NADPH (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate). In living cells, this small molecule is generated through metabolic processes, whereas its chemical production
is very expensive; as a result, the commercial use of OYEs is thwarted.

OYEs from unicellular green algae: two birds with one stone The
research team from Bochum has discovered several OYEs in unicellular
green algae. "For a broad application, industry needs OYEs that can
also produce unusual molecules," explains Professor Thomas Happe,
Head of the Photobiotechnology research group at RUB. "Algae possess
very complex metabolic pathways and are therefore ideal sources for
novel biocatalysts." The researchers analysed algal OYEs in the test
tube and showed that they are able to convert many commercially viable substances. "The exciting thing is that living algae can also carry
out the reactions needed in the industry," points out PhD student
Stefanie Bo"hmer, lead author of the study. "Since algae produce NADPH
using photosynthesis, i.e. with sunlight, the co-substrate of the
OYEs is supplied in an environmentally friendly and cost-effective
way." Promising collaboration The authors point out that the study demonstrates the importance of the collaboration between researchers
from different disciplines, and that the industry can be a valuable
partner who initiates basic research. Four researches from the Research Training Group "Micon -- Microbial substrate conversion," which is
funded by the German Research Foundation, contributed their expertise
to the study. The project was the brainchild of Solarbioproducts Ruhr,
a spin-off established by Wirtschaftsfo"rderungsgesellschaft Herne and
Thomas Happe with the aim of developing concepts for environmentally
friendly algae biotechnologies. "We have taken a big step towards a
green industry," concludes Happe. "This would not have been possible
without collaboration."

========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by Ruhr-University_Bochum. Note:
Content may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Stefanie Bo"hmer, Christina Marx, A'lvaro Go'mez-Baraibar, Marc M.

Nowaczyk, Dirk Tischler, Anja Hemschemeier, Thomas
Happe. Evolutionary diverse Chlamydomonas reinhardtii Old Yellow
Enzymes reveal distinctive catalytic properties and potential for
whole-cell biotransformations.

Algal Research, 2020; 50: 101970 DOI: 10.1016/j.algal.2020.101970 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/07/200702113700.htm

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