This thesis describes the synthesis, characterisation and application of artificial metalloenzymes as catalysts. The focus was on two mutants of SCP-2L (SCP-2L A100C and SCP-2L V83C) both of which possess a hydrophobic tunnel in which apolar substrates can accumulate. The crystal structure of SCP-2L A100C was determined and discussed with a special emphasis on its hydrophobic tunnel. The SCP-2L mutants were covalently modified at their unique cysteine with two different N-ligands (phenanthroline or dipicolylamine based) or three different phosphine ligands (all based on triphenylphosphine) in order to increase their binding capabilities towards metals. The metal binding capabilities of these artificial proteins towards different transition metals was determined. Phenanthroline modified SCP-2L was found to be a promising scaffold for Pd(II)-, Cu(II)-, Ni(II)- and Co(II)-enzymes while dipicolylamine-modified SCP-2L was found to be a promising scaffold for Pd(II)-enzymes. The rhodium binding capacity of two additional phosphine modified protein scaffolds was also investigated. Promising scaffolds for Rh(I)- and Ir(I)-enzymes were identified. Rh-enzymes of the phosphine modified proteins were tested in the aqueous-organic biphasic hydroformylation of linear long chain 1-alkenes and compared to the Rh/TPPTS reference system. Some Rh-enzymes were found to be several orders of magnitude more active than the model system while yielding comparable selectivities. The reason for this remarkable reactivity increase could not be fully elucidated but several potential modes of action could be excluded. Cu-, Co-, and Ni-enzymes of N-ligand modified SCP-2L A100C were tested in the asymmetric Diels-Alder reaction between cyclopentadiene and trans-azachalcone. A promising 29% ee for the exo-product was found for the phenanthroline modified protein in the presence of nickel. Further improvement of these catalyst systems by chemical means (e.g. optimisation of ligand structure) and bio-molecular tools (e.g. optimisation of protein environment) can lead to even more active and (enantio)selective catalysts in the future.

The proven ability to ferment Saccharomyces cerevisiae on a large scale presents an attractive target for producing chemicals and fuels from sustainable sources. Efficient and predominant carbon flux through to ethanol is a significant engineering issue in the development of this yeast as a multi-product cell chassis used in biorefineries. In order to evaluate diversion of carbon flux away from ethanol, combinatorial deletions were investigated in genes encoding the six isozymes of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), which catalyse the terminal step in ethanol production. The scarless, dominant and counter- selectable amdSYM gene deletion method was optimised for generation of a combinatorial ADH knockout library in an industrially relevant strain of S. cerevisiae. Current understanding of the individual ADH genes fails to fully evaluate genotype-by-genotype and genotype-by-environment interactions: rather, further research of such a complex biological process requires a multivariate mathematical modelling approach. Application of such an approach using the Design of Experiments (DoE) methodology is appraised here as essential for detailed empirical evaluation of complex systems. DoE provided empirical evidence that in S. cerevisiae: i) the ADH2 gene is not associated with producing ethanol under anaerobic culture conditions in combination with 25 g l-1 glucose substrate concentrations; ii) ADH4 is associated with increased ethanol production when the cell is confronted with a zinc-limited [1 μM] environment; and iii) ADH5 is linked with the production of ethanol, predominantly at pH 4.5. A successful metabolic engineering strategy is detailed which increases the product portfolio of S. cerevisiae, currently used for large-scale production of bioethanol. Heterologous expression of the cytochrome P450 fatty acid peroxygenase from Jeotgalicoccus sp., OleTJE, fused to the RhFRED reductase from Rhodococcus sp. NCIMB 978 converted free fatty acid precursors to C13, C15 and C17 alkenes (3.81 ng μl-1 total alkene concentration).