Project description
Shedding light on enzyme instability in industrial biocatalysis
Proteins are large and complex molecules found in nature. Many of them are enzymes that catalyse useful and valuable (bio)chemical reactions. Their proper functioning is highly dependent on their 3D shape and stability which is affected by their local environment. Despite their critical importance to biotechnology, there is limited knowledge of how the stability of enzymes is affected by the non-natural environment in reactors. The EU-funded FLUIZYME project will conduct a comprehensive investigation of enzyme stability in novel apparatus mimicking industrial conditions and using advanced analytical characterisation tools to deepen our understanding.
Objective
Enzymes are the protein-based catalysts found throughout nature and are of immense scientific importance, and of great practical value in medicine, chemistry and biotechnology. In most practical applications (such as industrial biocatalysis), enzymes are exposed to non-natural conditions, resulting in a loss of stability. Our understanding of what leads to a loss in enzyme stability under these conditions is very poor and therefore the aim of this project is to obtain such understanding. Current studies on enzyme stability mostly measure thermodynamic stability, and in some more limited cases operational stability, after exposure to different conditions (such as different temperatures and pH values). However, they overlook the effect of mixing, exposure to high concentrations of reactant and product as well as to dynamic fluid-fluid interfaces, all of which are common in a most practical applications. This project aims to understand the effect on enzyme stability of exposure to such non-natural conditions, using designed experiments in novel apparatus (mimicking industrial conditions), complemented by a suite of analytical characterization tools. The result of such studies will firstly enable the re-design of suitable equipment for industrial biocatalysis, which is of increasing interest as an alternative catalytic method for the synthesis and production of a vast array of valuable products. Secondly, the knowledge gained will be of great importance for protein engineering, providing the basis for pre-screening of enzymes on the basis of stability. Finally, the results will also have implications for other areas of bioprocessing, including microbial fermentation for the extracellular to produce enzymes and cell culture to produce therapeutic proteins.
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: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences chemical sciences catalysis biocatalysis
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins enzymes
- engineering and technology industrial biotechnology bioprocessing technologies fermentation
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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.
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H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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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-ADG - Advanced Grant
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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-2020-ADG
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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.
2800 Kongens Lyngby
Denmark
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.