Objective
The availability of a versatile catalytic platform to precisely target and functionalize individual C-H bonds in complex organic molecules would revolutionize our synthetic strategies, leading to streamlined routes to high value chemicals and supporting the development of a ‘greener’ chemical industry. Although an impressive range of C-H functionalizations can be achieved with small transition metal complexes, site selectivity is often determined by features of the substrate, and not by the catalyst. A general approach to achieve the more aspirational ‘catalyst controlled’ transformations requires molecular recognition elements within the catalyst which: a) allow precise substrate orientation and b) can be tuned to alter selectivity. In principle, these requirements could be perfectly addressed by protein catalysts which can be readily adapted via laboratory evolution. However, enzyme engineering strategies are currently limited to Nature’s twenty amino acid alphabet, severely limiting the range of metal co-ordination environments, and thus catalytic activities, that are accessible within proteins.
In enzC-Hem, I will exploit advanced protein engineering technology available in my laboratory to install ‘chemically programmed’ ligands and/or noble metal co-factors into selected enzyme scaffolds. I will show that the resulting C-H activation catalysts can be systematically optimized via directed evolution with an expanded genetic code using modern ultra-high throughput methods (>100 variants per second), yielding biocatalysts with augmented selectivity/activity profiles. Thus my approach merges the broad range of C-H functionalizations accessible with small molecule catalysts with precise control of selectivity provided by proteins. The biocatalysts developed will address major global challenges in biotechnology and synthetic chemistry, from enhancing lignocellulose derived biofuel production to revealing novel bioactive molecules via late-stage functionalizations.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: https://op.europa.eu/en/web/eu-vocabularies/euroscivoc.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: https://op.europa.eu/en/web/eu-vocabularies/euroscivoc.
- natural sciences chemical sciences catalysis biocatalysis
- engineering and technology industrial biotechnology biomaterials biofuels
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins enzymes
You need to log in or register to use this function
We are sorry... an unexpected error occurred during execution.
You need to be authenticated. Your session might have expired.
Thank you for your feedback. You will soon receive an email to confirm the submission. If you have selected to be notified about the reporting status, you will also be contacted when the reporting status will change.
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
-
H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
ERC-STG - Starting Grant
See all projects funded under this funding scheme
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2017-STG
See all projects funded under this callHost institution
Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
M13 9PL Manchester
United Kingdom
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.