Metal-containing Radical Enzymes

The pharmaceutical, chemical and polymer industries are cornerstones of Europe’s economy.

A key element for theirtransition to more sustainable processes and to innovative new compounds is biocatalysis.Of particular interest are metallo-enzymes, i.e. proteins that host a metal cofactor. They catalyze a multitude of redox andradical reactions. To access reactions that are unknown in nature, artificial metallo-enzymes can be created.

They combinethe new-to-nature catalytic activity of metal complexes with the selectivity-inducing environment of the active protein site.To develop novel biocatalysts, a highly interdisciplinary skill set is needed.

MetRaZymes will create a PhD school acrossleading European universities that will train the next generation of scientists capable of tackling the design, development andimplementation of novel enzymatic reactions in a holistic approach. It brings together computational bioscientists,bioinorganic and polymer chemists, and bioprocess engineers.

Using artificial and repurposed metalloenzymes as the focalpoint, the ESRs will develop novel biocatalysts for radical reactions of high synthetic value, such as the late stagemodification of pharmaceutical intermediates or the synthesis of polymers from renewable monomers.

To train the ESRs inthe needs of industrial biotechnology, the consortium includes eight of Europe´s leading pharmaceutical, chemical andenzymology companies. The ESRs will benefit from a vast transferable skills training program delivered by five trainingpartners. Highlights include a Nature Masterclass and Wikipedia workshop.

Communication partners such as Wikimedia andthe Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre will act as muliplicators for the communication of results.

Moreover, the ESRswill work with artist that use biology as their way of expression to create an ARTzymes exhibition that will foster the ERS´screativity and result in a an unique form of science dialogue with the general public.