Researchers shed light on new enzymatic reaction

(University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment) Researchers have discovered that repurposed enzymes and light are key to producing chemical compounds in an environmentally friendly fashion. By blending bio- and photocatalysis and experimenting with reactionary 'ingredients,' the CABBI team developed a visible-light-induced reaction using the enzyme family ene-reductase (ER). The substrates used in this study, alkenes, can be derived in principle from biomass fatty acids; the end products are valuable chiral carbonyl compounds with potential pharmaceutical applications.
Source: EurekAlert! - Biology - Category: Biology Source Type: news