About this Research Topic
Heme-containing proteins such as cytochrome P450 monooxygenases, heme peroxidases, and peroxygenases are extensively distributed in nature throughout the plant, animal, and microbial kingdoms. They are versatile enzymes capable of oxidizing a broad spectrum of substrates in a stereo‐ and regio‐specific manner, catalyzing reactions ranging from C–H activation, such as hydroxylation, dealkylation, and aromatic ring oxidation, to heteroatom oxidation, and carbon-carbon bond cleavage, etc. Due to their versatility, proteins containing heme as a prosthetic group are interesting candidates for developing biocatalysts useful in synthetic and biotechnological applications like the production of drug metabolites, the synthesis of fine chemicals, and the production of precursors for polymer synthesis or bioremediation. However, the application of heme enzymes has been very limited in the industry owing to their low activity, selectivity, stability, cofactor regeneration as well as oxygen and electron transfer in large scale processes. To solve these issues, advanced technologies need to be developed.
With this Research Topic, we aim to present a comprehensive view of the recent advances in the design and application of heme-containing proteins. We hope to bring together different disciplines such as synthetic organic and theoretical chemistry, structural and molecular biology as well as computational biology and synthetic biology. The cross-talk among these disciplines is beneficial for developing potent and robust biocatalysts for the sustainable manufacture of valuable chemicals, drugs, food additives, fragrances, fuels, and biomaterials.
This Research Topic encompasses Original Research articles, Perspectives, and Reviews on the design and application of industrial biocatalysts. Themes of interest include, but are not limited to:
• Discovery of novel heme biocatalysts with genome data-mining;
• Protein directed evolution for exploring natural and unnatural reactions;
•Computational tools for designing and understanding improved heme-containing enzymes;
• Heme-containing enzymes involved in multi-enzyme cascade biocatalysis;
• Application of heme-containing proteins in industrial processes.
With this Research Topic, we aim to present a comprehensive view of the recent advances in the design and application of heme-containing proteins. We hope to bring together different disciplines such as synthetic organic and theoretical chemistry, structural and molecular biology as well as computational biology and synthetic biology. The cross-talk among these disciplines is beneficial for developing potent and robust biocatalysts for the sustainable manufacture of valuable chemicals, drugs, food additives, fragrances, fuels, and biomaterials.
This Research Topic encompasses Original Research articles, Perspectives, and Reviews on the design and application of industrial biocatalysts. Themes of interest include, but are not limited to:
• Discovery of novel heme biocatalysts with genome data-mining;
• Protein directed evolution for exploring natural and unnatural reactions;
•Computational tools for designing and understanding improved heme-containing enzymes;
• Heme-containing enzymes involved in multi-enzyme cascade biocatalysis;
• Application of heme-containing proteins in industrial processes.
Keywords: Heme-containing proteins, enzyme directed evolution, enzyme rational design, computational analysis, mechanism study, biocatalysis
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
