Project description
Engineered enzymes for the synthesis of compounds to combat antimicrobial resistance
Carbohydrate-oxidising enzymes (COEs) are specialised proteins that modify carbohydrates by oxidising specific hydroxyl positions on their sugar rings, using oxygen as a mild oxidant. Their ability to target specific sites depends on the active site’s structure. This renders them highly selective tools for sugar modification. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the COxEnzymes - AGs project will engineer COEs to be applied in the regioselective synthesis of a library of bioactive compounds. Such compounds include aminoglycoside derivatives to combat antimicrobial resistance and rare sugars that can benefit health. The proposed approach will enable rapid and efficient creation of a large library of compounds that will be tested for antimicrobial activity and evaluated statistically. Project activities will have implications for biotechnology and chemistry.
Objective
Carbohydrate-oxidising enzymes (COE) are a group of enzymes which are active on specific carbohydrates and can use molecular oxygen as a mild oxidant. Oxidation is typically directed towards specific positions of the sugar ring. Regioselectivity and substrate specificity relies on the architecture of active site, therefore the direct evolution approach in this project will allow to generate a toolbox of effective and regiospecific catalysts to modify various carbohydrate scaffolds. Our aim is to use this toolbox to generate a library of bioactive compounds: i) aminoglycoside derivatives starting with analogues of Kanamycin as candidates to help in the fight against the global problem of antimicrobial resistance. This process in combination with a further chemical step may lead to a large library of derivatives prepared in short time with only a two-step chemoenzymatic process; ii) rare monosaccharides and oligosaccharides as promising candidates with health benefits. Antimicrobial activities of prepared library of compounds will be measured and statistically evaluated. Furthermore, this project will advance the current knowledge of COE which is of utmost interest for fundamental biology and crucial for industrial biotechnology and chemistry applications. Biocatalysis will be applicable to the synthesis of a wide range of saccharide related compounds, solving one of the big challenges in carbohydrate chemistry, the regioselective differentiation of the OH groups, in a green, sustainable and very efficient way.
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.
- engineering and technology industrial biotechnology
- medical and health sciences basic medicine pharmacology and pharmacy drug resistance antibiotic resistance
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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)
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.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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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) 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.
1099-085 Lisboa
Portugal
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.