Project description
Optimising enzyme efficiency
The selective breaking and forming of chemical bonds between carbon (C) and hydrogen (H) atoms is essential for many chemical processes, including CO2 reduction. This requires a balance of proton and electron transfers, such as hydrogen atom abstraction or hydride transfer. However, controlling where and how these reactions occur can be challenging. The success of these reactions often depends on factors like the enzyme’s environment and how it affects the reaction. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the MicroEnv project will develop a model for proton and electron transfer. The project aims to improve the efficiency of CO2 reduction and C-H bond activation. This research could help design better catalysts and optimise enzymes for important chemical reactions.
Objective
The crucial step for selective cleavage and formation of C-H bonds is a concerted transfer of proton (PT) and electron(s) (ET): hydrogen atom abstraction (HAA) or hydride transfer (HT). The HAA and HT processes can be employed to various chemical transformations: from activation of inert bonds to reduction of CO2. This approach, however, requires a strict control of the regioselectivity of the reaction. Notably, enzymes - catalysts developed by Nature, are characterised by high activity and selectivity. In this project, we would like to provide insight into the interplay of reaction thermodynamics and sterics given by the microenvironment of prototypical enzymatic active sites (employing HAA or HT as a key step in catalysis) and to decipher which of these effects is more important in enzymatic selectivity.
The focal point of the project is the novel three component thermodynamic-based model for reactivity, developed for concerted H+/e− abstraction. The model captures the coupled nature of PT and ET by the relative magnitutes of redox potentials and acidity constants of the reactants - their values determine not only the the reaction driving force but also the two novel contributions: asynchronicity and frustration with opposing effects on the barrier for the reaction. An asynchronous process, featuring a large disparity in ET and PT components of the reaction driving force, is more efficient. In contrast, a common large size of these ET and PT components makes HAA more frustrated and hence less effective.
Based on this model we would like to look into systems capable of CO2 reduction and C-H bond activation to assess to what extent their reactivity is tweaked by the local conditions given by the enzymatic microenvironment versus the “canonical” factors affecting enzymatic activity, such as sterics and specific interactions. The studies may serve as a guide for design for systems capable of effective reduction of CO2 and rational redesign of C-H activating enzymes.
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 physical sciences thermodynamics
- natural sciences chemical sciences catalysis
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins enzymes
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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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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
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Topic(s)
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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
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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.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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Call for proposal
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2023-PF-01
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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.
182 00 PRAHA
Czechia
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.