Fellow: ESR12
Home Institution: Aarhus University – Denmark
Academic Secondment 1: Graz University of Technology  – Austria
Academic Secondment 2: Delft University of Technology – the Netherlands
Industrial Secondment: Chiracon GmbH – Germany

This research will focus on the:

(i) Investigation of the effect of organic solvents and process parameters on the light-driven in vitro redox-biocatalysis,

(ii) Evaluation of immobilization methods for biocatalytic light-driven hydroxylations,

(iii) Evaluation of the cosubstrates as reducing equivalents,

(iv) Up-scaling of the model reaction system at the industrial partner.

Fellow: ESR11
Home Institution: Aarhus University – Denmark
Academic Secondment 1: University of Graz (Karl-Franzens-Universität) – Austria
Academic Secondment 2: Technical University of Denmark – Denmark
Industrial Secondment: Chiracon GmbH – Germany

This research will focus on the:

i) Optimization of the ADH-catalyzed light-driven in vitro lactone synthesis;

ii) Reaction engineering of the ADH-catalyzed light-driven in vitro synthesis of lactones (bulk and fine chemicals);

iii) Evaluation of the photobiocatalytic lactone synthesis in terms of cost, productivity and sustainability;

iv) Up-scaling of the model reaction system for the synthesis of fine lactone.

Fellow: ESR10
Home Institution: Graz University of Technology – Austria
Academic Secondment: University of Porto – Portugal
Industrial Secondment: Subitec GmbH – Germany

This research will focus on:

i) Investigation of cultivation concepts under the guidance of SUB (mixotrophy, inhibitors to minimize CALVIN cycle, light-dark cycles) measurement of product formation, intracellular NADPH levels and quantification of key stress genes by transcriptomics will reveal physiological key factors for cyanobacterial biotransformation;

ii) Using ene-reductase YqjM and Baeyer-Villiger Monooxygenase (CHMO) as model system, introduce these enzymes into the optimized chassis system at University of Porto for control of enzyme levels and electron flow;

iii) Analyse key parameter for up-scale, up-scale to 5L and then 25L, development of downstream-processing, and commercialization with the industry partner.

Fellow: ESR9
Home Institution: Wageningen University & Research – the Netherlands
Academic Secondment: Ruhr University Bochum – Germany

The research is set in biocatalysis, using oxidoreductase enzymes to catalyse key redox reactions leading to useful chiral building blocks for pharmaceuticals. The expensive nicotinamide cofactor required by oxidoreductases acts as an electron donor or acceptor by releasing or accepting a hydride in a one-step two electron transfer. The development of inexpensive synthetic nicotinamide coenzyme biomimetics (NCBs) has led to a major breakthrough for C=C bond reducing enzymes, and the PhD work will be dedicated to apply the same concept to other oxidoreductases. In addition to the lower cost, using light-activated NCBs could give access to non-natural redox reactions in these enzymes.

Fellow: ESR8
Home Institution: Ruhr University Bochum – Germany
Academic Secondment: Wageningen University & Research – the Netherlands
Industrial Secondment: GlaxoSmithKline – England

This research will focus on:

i) Method for low-cost one-step isolation and isotropic immobilization of photosystems on electrodes;

ii) Photobiocatalytic platform: development of redox modified protein scaffolds for direct electron transfer between photosystems and reductases based on FNR model system with WUR (ESR 9);

iii) In vitro application for light-driven synthesis of perillyl alcohol and caprolactone as proof-of-concept.

Fellow: ESR7
Home Institution: University of Graz (Karl-Franzens-Universität) – Austria
Academic Secondment: Aarhus University – Denmark
Industrial Secondment: GlaxoSmithKline – England

This research will focus on:

(i) the elucidation of the structural substrate requirements for the light-dependent enzyme;

ii) synthesis of substrates and reference materials;

iii) taping the operational window for the reaction.

Fellow: ESR6
Home Institution: Aix Marseille University – France
Academic Secondment 1: Aaurhus University – Denmark
Academic Secondment 2: Delft University of Technology – the Netherlands
Industrial Secondment: Arkema – France

This research will focus on the synthesis of BVMO-catalyzed light-driven in vitro lactone without nicotinamide cofactor; and then enlarge the group of type II BVMOs and the scope of substrates; and finally to evaluate the potentiality of the protein scaffold for light-driven reaction in multi-enzymatic step processes.

Fellow: ESR5
Home Institution: University of Groningen-  the Netherlands
Academic Secondment 1: Graz University of Technology – Austria
Academic Secondment 2: Aix Marseille University – France
Industrial Secondment: Entrechem SL – Spain

This research will focus on the Evaluation of photoantenna cofactors for photosensitation in terms of capturing photons and the transfer of the excitation energy (in form of electrons).

If necessary, it will also study the enzymatic synthesis of the photoantenna cofactors (methenyltetrahydrofolate by a synthetase).  Using Rieske non-heme oxygenases as model system for the coupling of the new photosensitizers with selective mono-and dihydroxylations of various arenes and olefins.

It will also optimize expressions and generate evolved RO variants; and also generate fusion proteins between cyanobacterial FNR and Rieske oxygenases for in vivo biotransformations – syntheses of maleimide linkers which selectively bind to an introduced cysteine on the surface of the RO to covalently bind the photoantenna cofactors.

Fellow: ESR4
Home Institution: Aix Marseille University – France
Academic Secondment: Graz University of Technology – Austria
Industrial Secondment: Subitec GmbH – Germany

This research will focus on the identification of novel Baeyer-Villiger MonoOxygenases for light-catalyzed whole-cell monooxygenation in cyanobacteria; and the comparison of several BVMOs (kinetic parameters, NADH or NADPH preference, stability in cyanobacteria) to select the most appropriate one and comparison of promoters to modulate enzyme activity in order to get a balanced NADPH/NADP+ consumption; and the Optimization of external O2-supply.

Fellow: ESR3
Home Institution: University of Porto – Portugal
Academic Secondment: Aix Marseille University – France
Industrial Secondment: Innophore GmbH – Austria

This research will focus on the introduction of limonene hydroxylase in cyanobacteria; implementation of a ferredoxin-dependent monooxygenation (synthesis of perrillyl alcohol from limonene by P450 monooxygenase); targeted identification of novel monooxygenases for light-catalyzed whole-cell monooxygenation (Computer aided search tools based on 3D-structure and sequences); and fusion protein coupling ferredoxin and P450 and comparison.