Enzyme engineering to boost European industry
Biocatalysts such as protein enzymes have been used to transform organic compounds, such as in the process of brewing or fermenting, for millennia. In recent decades, biocatalysts have been used in the pharmaceutical industry, chemical industry and other key sectors, showing much promise for advancing industry in a natural, environmentally friendly way. The EU-funded project 'In silico rational engineering of novel enzymes' (IRENE) worked on expanding the use of sustainable biocatalysts in industry. Bringing together stakeholders from the EU and Russia, the project team developed methods and strategies to produce biocatalysts endowed with novel properties. Specifically, the project created a software programme for fast, comprehensive modelling and screening of enzymes and their properties. It developed a strategy to predict the properties of proteins and protein–ligand complexes, in addition to creating a graphic user interface to enable easy computer-based calculations. Through these new computational methods, the project was able to facilitate simulation and visualisation of enzyme behaviour. It worked on newly engineered enzymes that boast industrially relevant properties; for example, development of more effective antibiotics. Progress on this topic has been documented on the project website, complete with a full report that can be downloaded from the 'Key readings' section. Although Europe supplies roughly 70 % of the world's enzymes, it is crucial to maintain leadership in this domain to help contribute to the region's competitiveness. The project has helped strengthen the EU's expertise in biocatalysis, overcoming expensive and time-consuming processes associated with conventional organic chemistry. In effect, IRENE successfully developed guidelines and methods for the design of enzymes and protein engineering, bringing with it a wide variety of benefits for industry. This will boost biotech products and bring innovation to chemical industries worldwide, in addition to furthering Europe's knowledge-based society and enhancing economic competitiveness. New learning opportunities and business partnerships are bound to emerge, contributing to the EU's pioneering spirit and the sustainability of its industry.
