title: Better than Nature: Nicotinamide Biomimetics That Outperform Natural Coenzymes.
abstract: The search for affordable, green biocatalytic processes is a challenge for chemicals manufacture. Redox biotransformations are potentially attractive, but they rely on unstable and expensive nicotinamide coenzymes that have prevented their widespread exploitation. Stoichiometric use of natural coenzymes is not viable economically, and the instability of these molecules hinders catalytic processes that employ coenzyme recycling. Here, we investigate the efficiency of man-made synthetic biomimetics of the natural coenzymes NAD(P)H in redox biocatalysis. Extensive studies with a range of oxidoreductases belonging to the "ene" reductase family show that these biomimetics are excellent analogues of the natural coenzymes, revealed also in crystal structures of the ene reductase XenA with selected biomimetics. In selected cases, these biomimetics outperform the natural coenzymes. "Better-than-Nature" biomimetics should find widespread application in fine and specialty chemicals production by harnessing the power of high stereo-, regio-, and chemoselective redox biocatalysts and enabling reactions under mild conditions at low cost.
authors.affiliation: BBSRC/EPSRC Centre for Synthetic Biology of Fine and Speciality Chemicals, Faculty of Life Sciences, Manchester Institute of Biotechnology , 131 Princess Street, Manchester M1 7DN, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Tanja
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Knaus
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Delft University of Technology , Julianalaan 136, 2628BL Delft, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Caroline E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Paul
authors.affiliation: BBSRC/EPSRC Centre for Synthetic Biology of Fine and Speciality Chemicals, Faculty of Life Sciences, Manchester Institute of Biotechnology , 131 Princess Street, Manchester M1 7DN, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Colin W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Levy
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Delft University of Technology , Julianalaan 136, 2628BL Delft, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: de Vries
authors.affiliation: BBSRC/EPSRC Centre for Synthetic Biology of Fine and Speciality Chemicals, Faculty of Life Sciences, Manchester Institute of Biotechnology , 131 Princess Street, Manchester M1 7DN, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Francesco G
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Mutti
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Delft University of Technology , Julianalaan 136, 2628BL Delft, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hollmann
authors.affiliation: BBSRC/EPSRC Centre for Synthetic Biology of Fine and Speciality Chemicals, Faculty of Life Sciences, Manchester Institute of Biotechnology , 131 Princess Street, Manchester M1 7DN, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Nigel S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Scrutton
mesh_terms: D055162:Biocatalysis; D040761:Biomimetic Materials / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D015394:Molecular Structure; D009249:NADP / Q000378:metabolism*; D009536:Niacinamide / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction
chemical_list: D009536:Niacinamide; D009249:NADP