Enzyme technology: Key to selective biorefining

Development of selective biomass upgrading processes is a crucial prerequisite for unfolding the potential of biomass in biorefinery processes. The biorefinery concept designates that different value-added compounds are produced from the same crop or biomass stream. Selectivity with respect to the reaction is a unique trait of enzyme catalysis.

Since enzyme selectivity means that a specific reaction is catalysed between particular species to produce definite products, enzymes are particularly fit for converting specific compounds in mixed biomass streams. Since enzymes are protein molecules their rational use in biorefinery processes requires an understanding of the basic features of enzymes and reaction traits with respect to specificity, kinetics, reaction optima, stability and structure-function relations – we are now at a stage where it is possible to use nature’s enzyme structures as starting point and then improve the functional traits by targeted mutation of the protein.

The talk will display some of our recent hypotheses related to enzyme action, recently obtained results within knowledge-based enzyme improvements as well as cast light on research methods used in optimizing enzyme catalysed biomass conversion processes.