Orientador: José Augusto Rosário Rodrigues / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Química / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-22T17:51:51Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Zampieri_LuizArthur_D.pdf: 85903823 bytes, checksum: 1e986b4988d705babbd33a4f64b81704 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013 / Resumo: Estudou-se e foram desenvolvidos biocatalisadores baseados em duas técnicas de imobilização: em gel de alginato (com/sem revestimento de quitosana) e em nanossílica funcionalizada. Foram preparados biocatalisadores com lacases (comercial e do caldo enzimático de crescimento do fungo Pycnoporus sanguineus, sob ação de indutores de atividade enzimática), utilizados em reações de oxidação de alcoóis, na decomposição de fármacos e em descoloramento de corantes azo. Também foram preparados biocatalisadores por imobilização de células íntegras de 4 microrganismos, utilizados em reações de redução de enonas. As lacases foram imobilizadas em esferas de alginato de cobre além de poderem ser revestidas com quitosana. A quitosana aumentou a resistência mecânica das esferas e possibilitou que fossem utilizadas por até 3 vezes sucessivas. As reações de oxidação de alcoóis feitas com alginato revestido com quitosana forneceram porcentagens de produto inferiores a relatado na literatura (~50% contra 80% da literatura) e, por isso, essa técnica foi substituída por outra, baseada em nanossílica funcionalizada. A técnica de imobilização de lacases em nanossílica funcionalizada forneceu maiores porcentagens de produtos de oxidação do que a de imobilização em gel, havendo 100% de conversão inicial do substrato (álcool para-metoxibenzílico) quando é utilizado o mediador TEMPO. É possível utilizar este biocatalisador por até 10 vezes, sendo esta a técnica de escolha para essa reação de oxidação de alcoóis com o sistema lacase mediador. A imobilização de lacases em nanossílica funcionalizada também mostrou-se capaz de decompor fármacos (diclofenaco, estradiol, ciprofloxacina, naproxeno e norfloxacina), se colocando como uma alternativa complementar para sistemas de tratamento de águas. O descoloramento de corantes azo pelas esferas de alginato contendo lacases foi estudado tanto com esferas contendo lacase comercial como com o caldo enzimático sob indução. Ambas demonstraram capacidade de descolorir todos os corantes testados, por até 4 ciclos, sendo que a utilização do mediador HBT ampliou as porcentagens de descoramento (~40/50% sem HBT contra ~70/85% com HBT). As esferas contendo caldo enzimático apresentaram resultados ligeiramente superiores, ambas com HBT (85% do caldo enzimático contra 70% da enzima comercial). O biocatalisador com células de microrganismos (S.cerevisiae, R.glutinis, C.albicans e G. candidum) foi preparado em esferas de alginato de cálcio e também em esferas de alginato de cálcio revestidas com quitosana, o que alterou as propriedades e forneceu resultados diversos daquelas sem quitosana, permitindo o controle quimiosseletivo do processo reacional para alguns dos substratos. Os biocatalisadores com células em gel apresentaram algumas vantagens em relação às células livres, já que não ocorrem as emulsões durante o processo de isolamento, não se observou desalogenação, contorna-se a morte das células possibilitando que as reações sejam mantidas por mais tempo ou com maior quantidade de substrato e, em alguns casos, houve aumento do excesso enantiomérico, mostrando que esta técnica tem grande versatilidade e ainda atribuiu características de controle do processo reacional, o que é difícil ou mesmo impossível de ser feito com células livres / Abstract: In this work biocatalysts based on two immobilization techniques were developed and studied: those based on alginate gel entrapping (with or without an outer chitosan layer) and those based on functionalized nanosilica linkage. Laccase-based biocatalysts were prepared and used in the oxidation of alcohols, degradation of pharmaceuticals and bleaching of azo dyes. Both commercial laccase and laccase obtained from the fungus Pycnoporus sanguineus under enzymatic activity inductors were used. Biocatalysts for the reduction of enones were also prepared by immobilization of whole cells from four different microorganisms in calcium alginate. Laccases were immobilized in copper alginate, in some experiments being covered by a layer of chitosan. The chitosan layer enhanced the spheres¿ mechanical resistance, making it possible for them to be reutilized up to three successive times. Alcohol oxidations carried out by laccases in alginate beads covered by chitosan yielded lower conversions to those reported in the literature (ca. 50% versus 80% from the literature), and, thus, this technique was replaced by another one based on functionalized nanosilica. This immobilization technique yielded a higher amount of the oxidation product than the gel immobilization, and up to 100% conversion was achieved for the model substrate (p-methoxybenzyl alcohol) when TEMPO was used as the mediator. It was possible to use this biocatalyst up to ten times, ultimately being the chosen technique for the alcohol oxidations using the laccase-mediator system. Functionalized nanosilica-immobilized laccases were also able to decompose pharmaceuticals (diclofenac, estradiol, ciprofloxacin, naproxen and norfloxacin), presenting itself as a complementary alternative to water treatment systems. Azo dye bleaching by alginate-entrapped laccases was studied using both commercial laccase and the enzymatic broth under induction. Both showed capability of decolorizing all inspected dyes, for up to four cycles, and the utilization of the mediator HBT enhanced the decolorizing percentage (ca. 40-50% without HBT versus ca. 70- 85% with HBT). Beads containing the enzymatic broth presented slightly superior results, both with HBT (85% for the enzymatic broth versus 70% with the commercial enzyme). Whole-cell biocatalysts were prepared with microorganisms (S. cerevisiae, R. glutinis, C. albicans and G. candidum) entrapped in calcium alginate beads with or without an outer chitosan layer. The chitosan layer altered the beads¿ properties, as well as the reduction outcomes, allowing the chemoselectivity control for some of the substrates. Gel-entrapped biocatalysts presented some advantages compared to those with free cells, since no emulsion was observed in the reaction workups, no dehalogenation was observed in the case of halogenated enones, cell death could be delayed, making it possible for reactions to be carried out for more time and with greater amounts of substrate, and in some cases, an enhancement of enantiomeric excess was observed. These results show that it is a very versatile technique that can be used as a strategy for the control of the biocatalytic reactions, which is harder to achieve when free cells are employed / Doutorado / Quimica Organica / Doutor em Ciências

Orientador: Gabriela Alves Macedo / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia de Alimentos / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-23T15:45:42Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Lopes_DanielleBranta_D.pdf: 3780152 bytes, checksum: ba7b4a54629ff27a24abae14e788d60c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013 / Resumo: Os aromas despertam grande interesse entre consumidores e indústrias de alimentos, especialmente por estarem diretamente relacionados ao sabor dos alimentos. Dentre os aromas de maior importância industrial destaca-se o grupo das lactonas, presentes em uma grande variedade de produtos naturais e compostos biologicamente ativos. Em virtude do destaque apresentado por essa classe de substâncias, diversos métodos para sua produção têm sido relatados. Como alternativa aos processos químicos tradicionais, propõe-se nesta pesquisa a utilização da biotecnologia de micro-organismos e enzimas para a produção de compostos aromáticos a partir de substratos naturais, como óleos vegetais hidrolisados.A fermentação microbiana é considerada um caminho potencial para a produção de aromas naturais, sendo o grupo formado pelos fungos um dos mais utilizados para esse fim. A biocatálise também é uma alternativa muito vantajosa e capaz de catalisar um grande número de reações estéreo- e regiosseletivas, o que não é alcançado por meio de síntese química clássica. O uso de enzimas isoladas torna-se preferível em relação ao uso de micro-organismos quando existem limitações relacionadas à permeabilidade do substrato na membrana da célula ou quando ocorrem reações secundárias indesejáveis.Considerando-se os argumentos citados, neste trabalho foram estudados dois métodos para a produção de lactonas. O primeiro deles, a biotransformação, foi feita a partir do uso de micro-organismos para a produção dos compostos em questão. O segundo método, a biocatálise, foi realizado através da reação de lactonização com o uso de lipases microbianas brutas isoladas e liofilizadas. Os substratos utilizados no estudo foram os óleos vegetais de mamona e linhaça previamente hidrolisados por lipases fúngicas produzidas por Rhizopus sp. e Geotrichum sp. A produção de lactonas foi alcançada em ambos os métodos. Com o uso da biotransformação, todos os micro-organismos testados (Geotrichum sp., Rhizopus sp., Aspergillus sp. (Linhagens 1068 e 1099) e Fusarium oxysporum) foram capazes de produzir diferentes tipos de lactonas, com destaque para o fungo Fusarium oxysporum, que produziu maior variedade delas (&61543;-decalactona, 2-cumaranona, mevalonolactona e pantolactona), além de alcançar o maior rendimento na produção de &61543;-decalactona (18,93 &956;L L-1), após 48 horas de reação e empregando-se os óleos de mamona e linhaça previamente hidrolisados pela lipase produzida pelo fungo Rhizopus sp.. Através do uso da biocatálise, ótimos resultados também foram alcançados, e a produção de lactonas foi possível ao se utilizar as lipases produzidas pelos fungos Rhizopus sp., Aspergillus sp. (Linhagem 1068) e Fusarium oxysporum, sendo possível a produção de &61543;-undecalactona, &61543;-decalactona e &61543;-dodecalactona, dependendo da lipase empregada e do tempo de reação. A maior produtividade foi obtida na produção de &61543;-undecalactona ao se utilizar a lipase produzida pelo fungo Rhizopus sp. após 24 horas de reação, obtendo-se um rendimento de 21,78 &956;L L-1, também a partir do uso dos óleos de mamona e linhaça hidrolisados previamente pela lipase produzida por Rhizopus sp. As lipases produzidas pelos fungos Geotrichum sp. e Aspergillus sp. (Linhagem 1099), também estudadas neste trabalho, não foram capazes de produzir lactonas / Abstract: Aromas arouse great interest among consumers and food industry, especially because heir direct relationship with food taste. In the midst of the most important industrial flavorings stands lactones group, which are present in a wide variety of natural products and biologically active compounds. Due to the prominence of this class of substances, several methods for the production of lactones have been reported. As an alternative to traditional chemical processes, it is proposed in this research the use of microbial and enzyme biotechnology for the production of aromatic compounds natural substrates, such as hydrolyzed vegetable oils. The microbial fermentation is considered a potential pathway for the production of natural flavor, and fungi group is the most widely used for this purpose. Biocatalysis is also a very useful alternative and is able to catalyze a large number of stereo- and regioive reactions, which is not achieved by classical chemical synthesis. The use of isolated enzymes is preferable over the use of microorganisms when there are limitations concerning the permeability of the substrate in the cell membrane or when undesired side reactions occur. Considering these arguments, two methods were investigated in this work for the production of lactones. The first one, biotransformation, was made the use of microorganisms for the production of these compounds. The second method, biocatalysis, was performed by lactonization reaction using crude microbial lipases that was isolated and lyophilized. Substrates used were the vegetable castor and linseed oils previously hydrolyzed by fungal lipases produced by Rhizopus sp. and Geotrichum sp. Lactones production was achieved in both methods. Using biotransformation, all microorganisms tested (Geotrichum sp., Rhizopus sp., Aspergillus sp. (Strains 1068 and 1099) and Fusarium oxysporum) were able to produce different lactone types, especially using the fungus Fusarium oxysporum, which produced a greater variety (&61543;-decalactone, 2-cumaranone, mevalonolactone and pantolactone), achieving the best performance in y-x decalactone production (18.93 &956;L L-1), after 48 h employing castor and linseed oils hydrolyzed by lipase Rhizopus sp. Through the biocatalysis use, excellent results were also obtained, and the lactones production was possible using lipases produced by fungi Rhizopus sp., Aspergillus sp. (Strain 1068) and Fusarium oxysporum. The production of y-undecalactone, y-decalactone and y-dodecalactone was achieved depending on the lipase employed and the reaction time used. Highest yield was obtained in the &61543;-undecalactone production (21.78 &956;L L-1), using castor and linseed oils hydrolyzed by Rhizopus sp. lipase. Lipases produced by Geotrichum sp. and Aspergillus sp. (Strain 1099) was also studied in this work, but were unable to produce lactones / Doutorado / Ciência de Alimentos / Doutora em Ciência de Alimentos

Orientador: Anita Jocelyne Marsaioli / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Quimica / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-19T01:24:15Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Mantovani_SimoneMoraes_D.pdf: 4553084 bytes, checksum: 941c2cd131469cbd398d6bc132f763bd (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011 / Resumo: A utilização de biocatalisadores em processos industriais permite a obtenção de produtos de alto valor agregado em sintonia com as demandas de caráter tecnológico e de preservação ambiental. De maneira geral, o desenvolvimento de um biocatalisador envolve inicialmente a triagem da atividade de interesse, seguida da análise das propriedades como seletividade (regio e estereosseletividade) ou estabilidade, que podem ser posteriormente otimizadas por evolução dirigida ou desenho racional até a obtenção de um biocatalisador ótimo. Dessa maneira, os objetivos desse trabalho de tese foram aplicar diferentes metodologias para obtenção de biocatalisadores eficientes, que serão descritos em três capítulos. No capítulo I foi descrita a exploração de novos biocatalisadores por triagem da atividade enzimática em formato miniaturizado de biblioteca metagenômica composta por 864 clones utilizando sondas fluorogênicas, e que levou à detecção de quatro clones ativos para a hidrólise de ésteres. Posteriormente esses clones foram avaliados frente a substratos não modificados permitindo identificar um clone expressando uma enzima de alta quimio e enantiosseletividade para resolução cinética de éster propiônico (E > 100).. No capítulo II foi descrito o mecanismo da desracemização de álcoois secundários por células íntegras de Candida albicans CCT 0776 que consiste em um processo cíclico de oxidação e redução. A primeira etapa é catalisada por uma enzima altamente (S)-seletiva dependente de NADP e O2, seguida de redução pouco seletiva dependente de NADH. Esse sistema foi aplicado para diferentes álcoois e dióis, e possibilitou a detecção dos enantiômeros anti-Prelog com conversões de moderadas a altas (60 a 99 %) e altos excessos enantioméricos (80 a 90%) entre períodos de 20 a 120 h. Por fim, no Capítulo III foi descrito o trabalho de engenharia do citocromo P450Bm3 por exploração combinatória de alanina e posterior evolução dirigida para desmetilação regiosseletiva de substratos volumosos. Essa etapa foi desenvolvida durante o estágio de doutorando em Catech (EUA) sob a supervisão da Profa. Frances Arnold e permitiu a obtenção de variantes capazes de catalisar N-desmetilação de alcalóides e hidroxilação de esteróides com rendimentos moderados (20-80%). Todos esses resultados mostram a variedade de técnicas que podem ser empregadas para o desenvolvimento e aplicações de biocatalisadores visando transformações regio e estereosseletivas eficientes / Abstract: Biocatalysts have been widely applied in recent decades for industrial processes yielding high value products under environmentally friendly reaction conditions. The development of biocatalysts often begins with screening to identify enzymes with suitable activities followed by characterization of the enzymes chemo-, regio- and stereoselectivity or stability. However, identification of new biocatalysts does not always yield enzymes suitable for a given synthetic problem. To overcome this limitation, biocatalysts can be optimized by protein engineering using rational design or directed evolution. In this context, this thesis describes different methodologies that can be explored to obtain efficient biocatalysts for selective transformations. In Chapter I, functional screening of an 864 member metagenomic library derived from soil using a miniaturized assay based on fluorogenic substrates is described. These assays identified four clones capable of ester hydrolysis. Upon further evaluation using high value substrates, one clone, B6, was shown to display high chemo- and enantioselectivity (E>100) for propionic ester hydrolysis. Chapter II describes the study and application of secondary alcohols deracemization using Candida albicans CCT 0776 whole cells. Monitoring the reaction using phenylethanol as a substrate revealed this system furnishes the (R)-enantiomer in high yield and enantiomeric excess mediated by a cyclic process of oxidation and reduction. In summary the first step is catalyzed by a high S- selective enzyme dependent on NADP and O2 followed by a non-selective reduction catalyzed by an NADH-dependent enzyme. This whole cell biocatalyst was applied to different sec-alcohols and diols allowing the detection of the anti-Prelog products in moderate to high conversions (60 and 99%) and high enantiomeric excess (80 and 90%) within 20 to 120 hour incubation times. Finally, in Charpter III the engineering of cytochrome P450Bm3 by alanine combinatorial scanning mutagenesis followed by directed evolution was used to identify enzymes with regioselective demethylation of bulky substrates. These libraries furnished variants capable of catalyzing regioselective N-demethylation of alkaloids and diastereoselective hydroxylation of steroids in moderate yields. Taken together these studies show the variety of techniques that can be applied for development and application of biocatalysts enabling selective and efficient transformations / Doutorado / Quimica Organica / Doutor em Ciências

The potential of countercurrent chromatography (CCC) as a small footprint bioreactor/separator for manufacture of enantiopure chiral molecules was explored, using as a model reaction the isolation of L-amino butyric acid (L-ABA) from a DL-ABA racemate and the enantioselectivity of D-amino acid oxidase (DAAO). Bioconversion of D-ABA to ketobutyric acid (KBA) by DAAO, immobilised by selective partitioning in the stationary phase of the CCC centrifuge, was accompanied by separation of unreacted L-ABA from KBA by the countercurrent action of the centrifuge. For effective bioreactor/separator action, a high partition of the biocatalyst to the stationary phase was required in order to retain the biocatalyst in the coil, with differing partitions of substrates and products between the stationary phase (SP) and mobile phase (MP) so that these could be separated. Aqueous two-phase systems (ATPS) were the major two-phase systems used to provide SP and MP, as these are well reported to be effective in preserving enzyme activity. The distribution ratios of DL-ABA, KBA and DAAO were measured in a range of phases with polyethylene glycols (PEGs) of different molecular weights, different salts, and different compositions of PEG and salt, using an automated robotic method, developed for the purpose. A system of 14% w/w PEG 1000/ 14% w/w potassium phosphate, pH 7.6, gave the best combination of distributions ratios (CPEG phase/Csalt phase = CSP/CMP) for ABA, KBA and biocatalyst (DAAO) of 0.6, 2.4 and 19.6 respectively. A limited number of aqueous-organic and ionic liquid two-phase systems were also reviewed, but found unsatisfactory. CCC operating conditions such as substrate concentration, biocatalyst concentration, the mobile phase flow rate (residence time in the CCC coil), temperature, rotational speed and operational modes (single flow and multiple-dual flow) and types of mixing (cascade and wave-like) were optimised to produce total conversion of D-ABA to KBA, which was then completely separated from unreacted, enantiomerically pure (>99% ee), LABA. Advantages of the CCC bioreactor over conventional technology include reduced equipment footprint, cheaper running costs, and faster purifications. However, in its current format the drawbacks, such as enzyme instability and excessive optimisation time, reduce its commercial appeal. Additional investigations into the use of whole cell preparations of biocatalyst in the CCC bioreactor showed potential to overcome the problem of enzyme instability and this may in the future give the CCC bioreactor a place in the enantioseparation field.

Nitrile biocatalysts are of use in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries for the synthesis of carboxyamides and carboxylic acids. In particular, the application of biocatalysts in the synthesis of single enantiomer compounds is of increasing interest, but requires novel substrate specific highly stereoselective biocatalysts. Addition to the limited toolbox of known nitrile biocatalysts requires definitive characterisation of the biocatalysts through accurate determination of the substrate profiles and quantification of activity. The accurate quantification of stereoisomers chiral mixtures to determine biocatalyst stereoselectivity remains a significant challenge due to the difficulty in separating stereoisomers by physical methods. The known nitrile metabolising organism, Rhodococcus rhodochrous ATCC BAA-870, was grown in a defined medium and harvested, providing whole cell biocatalyst. Additional biomass was disrupted to provide a cell free enzyme extract, which was put through an enzyme purification protocol to provide a solution with specific activity of 351 U.mg⁻¹. A portion of the enzyme was self immobilised using the SphereZyme™ technique. The nitrile hydratase SphereZymes™ (1.2 U.mg⁻¹ initial activity) that were prepared had pH and temperature optima of 6 and 30°C respectively, and could be recovered by repeated washing. The particles retained activity in the presence of the organic solvents isooctane and n-hexadecane saturated with 50 mM phosphate buffer (pH 7.5). An initial analytical system was devised for quantification of the nitrile hydratase activity using the non-chiral substrate benzonitrile. An improved reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography method was developed to separate and quantify benzamide, benzoic acid and benzonitrile. The mobile phase consisting of 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid in H₂O and acetonitrile (70:30, %v/v), at a flow rate of 0.5 ml.ml⁻¹, 25°C, resolved all three analytes in 3.5 minutes on a Waters X-Terra MS C18 3.5μm column. UV detection was carried out at 210 nm. Analytical methods to determine activity and enantioselectivity of the whole cell biocatalyst were subsequently developed for both β-amino nitriles and β-hydroxy nitrile substrates and hydrolysis products.

L'objectif de ce travail était d'étudier l'impact du mode de préparation et de la formulation de bioplastiques transparents issus d'huile de soja sur leur structure et leurs propriétés thermiques et mécaniques. Nous nous sommes plus particulièrement intéressés à l'huile de soja époxydée (ESO), qui a ensuite été acrylée et co-polymérisée avec méthacrylate de méthyle (MMA) en présence ou non de nano-particules de dioxyde de titane. Deux méthodes de préparation d'ESO ont été comparées. La première a fait appel à une époxydation chimique en présence de peroxyde d'hydrogène et d'acide formique. L'acide sulfurique a été utilisé comme catalyseur pour la production de peracides, ces oxydants forts générant ensuite des époxydes par attaque des doubles liaisons des acides gras de l'huile. La seconde consistait en une époxydation chimio-enzymatique, les peracides étant alors générés dans des conditions douces de pH et de température par catalyse enzymatique en présence d'H2O2 et d'huile. Deux types de lipases ont été utilisées comme biocatalyseurs : la lipase de Candida antarctica (Novozyme 435) et la lipase/acyltransférase de C. parapsilosis. Un contrôle de la réaction a permis d'obtenir des produits à différents degrés d'époxydation (50 et 75  3 %). Les effets du mode d'époxydation, du degré d'acrylation et des teneurs en MMA et TiO2 sur les propriétés des bioplastiques obtenus ont été étudiés par FTIR, RMN 1D et 2D, DMTA, TGA et par mesure des propriétés mécaniques.Mots-clés : Biocomposite, Bioplatique, Nanocomposite, Huile de soja époxydée et acrylée (AESO), Dioxyde de titane (TiO2), Biocatalyse, Lipase / The aim of this research to study the effect the production method and the formulation of transparent soybean oil-based bioplastics on their structure and their thermal and mechanical properties. We focused on epoxidized soybean oil (ESO), that was acrylated and copolymerized methyl methacrylate (MMA) with and without titanium dioxide (TiO2). Two methods of ESO preparation were compared. The first used chemical epoxidation in the presence of H2O2 and formic acid, using sulfuric acid as a catalyst to produce peracids as strong oxydants for the epoxidation. The second one was a chemo-enzymatic method where the peracids were generated in mild conditions by an enzyme in the presence of H2O2. Two types of lipases were selected as biocatalysts for the chemo-enzymatic epoxidation: Novozyme®435 and a non-commercial lipase/acyltransferase (CpLIP2). The reaction was controlled so as to obtain different degrees of epoxidation (DOE), i.e. 50+/-3 mol% and 75+/-3 mol%, from both methods. Acrylated ESO (AESO) was chemically synthesized by acrylation of ESO and acrylic acid. Then AESO was copolymerized with MMA and cured to form a rigid polymer using 1 wt% of benzoyl peroxide as a free radical initiator. A nanocomposite was prepared by blending AESO-co-PMMA with 0.1-0.2 wt% nano-TiO2 (particle size 2-5 nm). The effect of degree of acrylation, MMA content and titanium dioxide content on structural, tensile and thermal properties of the obtained bioplastics were studied using Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR), 1D and 2D NMR, dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and mechanical properties determination.

Polaromonas sp. strain JS666 is the only isolated bacterium capable of aerobic growth using the groundwater pollutant cis-1,2-dichloroethene (cDCE) as a sole carbon source. Its genome has a wealth of evidence of recent gene acquisition through horizontal gene transfer, and contains gene clusters predicted to encode enzymes allowing the metabolism of a wide variety of xenobiotic compounds. Culture growth using each of these hypothesized substrates was tested experimentally, and many were confirmed as sole carbon sources for strain JS666. In addition to pollutant degradation, many of these metabolic pathways have applicability in the field of biocatalysis, as does the genome-assisted pathway prediction approach to biocatalyst discovery. During (or immediately following) growth on cDCE, cultures of Polaromonas sp. strain JS666 oxidize ethene to epoxyethane at an increased rate, and also cometabolically oxidize several other chlorinated ethenes. Given the involvement of a monooxygenase in other species' 1-chloroethene (vinyl chloride) oxidation, it was hypothesized that alkene oxidation in strain JS666 was due to the activity of a monooxygenase that also was responsible for the first step in cDCE oxidation. The alkene oxidation activity of strain JS666 was investigated using gene expression analysis, proteomics, and whole-cell kinetic assays. Results of these experiments pointed to the upregulation of a cyclohexanone monooxygenase (CHMO) during growth on cDCE and during oxidation of ethene. To determine the activity of this cyclohexanone monooxygenase, its gene was cloned and heterologously expressed in an E. coli host. Our CHMO expression system exhibited activity on cyclohexanone, but not cDCE or ethene, disproving our hypothesis about its involvement in alkene oxidation. The heterologously expressed monooxygenase was also investigated for enantioselective oxidation of racemic cyclic ketones to chiral lactones, and was discovered to have very high enantioselectivity with the tested compounds. Chiral lactones and other single-enantiomer oxidation products are valuable for fine chemical synthesis, and their biocatalytic production is more environmentally sustainable and often less expensive than traditional techniques. The research described in the following chapters illustrates the many opportunities that arise when the fields of bioremediation and biocatalysis converge. The shared research goals and methods of these two areas lend themselves to interdisciplinary research, and increased communication and crossover between them should provide benefits for both environmental remediation and sustainable chemical synthesis.

Emissions of CO$_2$ largely contribute to global warming. Carbon dioxide can be captured and used to produce value-added chemicals. This thesis focuses on bioelectrocatalysis as a green and sustainable approach. Our aim was to perform conversion of CO$_2$ to methanol via a multi-enzymatic cascade. However, for reactions involving oxidoreductases, ß-NAD is required as a cofactor. Its use in stoichiometric amounts is unprofitable. We address the issue by employing electrochemical regeneration of the cofactor. For the cascade, we expressed and purified formate dehydrogenase, formaldehyde dehydrogenase and alcohol dehydrogenase. Enzymes activity was tested and found to be low for two enzymes. A reliable method to detect methanol via headspace gas chromatography with a flame ionization detector was developed. We tested the cascade with employed in situ electrochemical cofactor regeneration. After two and a half hours of the reaction 4 µmol methanol were detected. Further research is needed to optimize the setup.

Enzymes have found applications in a broad range of industrial production processes. While high catalytic activity, selectivity and mild reaction conditions are attractive advantages of the biocatalysts, particularly costs arising from required cofactors pose a sever limitation. While cofactor-recycling systems are available, their use implies constraints for process set-up and conditions, which are a particular problem e.g. for solid-gas-phase reactions. Several oxidoreductases are able to directly exchange electrons with electrodes. Hence, the co-immobilization of both, an electron-utilizing and an electron-generating oxidoreductase on conductive nanoparticles should facilitate the direct electron flow from an enzymatic oxidation to a reduction reaction circumventing redox-cofactors requirements. In such a set-up, hydrogenases could generate and provide electrons directly form gaseous hydrogen. This thesis describes the co-immobilization of the oxygen tolerant hydrogenases from C. eutropha or C. metallidurans and cytochrome P450BM3 as test system. Conductive material in the form of carbon nanotubes (CNT) serves as a suitable support. A combination of the hydrogenase and the catalytic domain of P450BM3 immobilized on carbon nanotubes were tested for the oxidation of lauric acid in the presence of hydrogen instead of an electron-transport cofactor. The GC-MS analysis reveals the conversion of 4% of lauric acid (LA) into three products, which correspond to the hydroxylated lauric acid in three different positions with a total turnover (TON) of 34. The product distribution is similar to that obtained when using the wildtype P450BM3 with the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) cofactor. Such electronic coupling couldn’t be achieved for the conversion of other substrates such as propane and cyclohexane, probably due to the high uncoupling rate within the heme-domain of cytochrome P450BM3 when unnatural substrates are introduced.

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