Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 3, 2026

Immobilization of Multi-biocatalysts in Alginate Beads for Cofactor Regeneration and Improved Reusability
Published on: April 22, 2016
Production of chiral compounds using immobilized cells as a source of biocatalysts
Camila M Kisukuri1, Leandro H Andrade
1Universidade de São Paulo, Instituto de Química, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes 748, SP 05508-900, São Paulo, Brazil. leandroh@iq.usp.br.
Abstract:
The importance of chiral compounds in all fields of technology and life sciences is shown. Small chiral molecules are mainly used as building blocks in the synthesis of more complex and functionalized compounds. Nature creates and imposes stereoselectivity by means of enzymes, which are highly efficient biocatalysts. The use of whole cells as a biocatalyst source is a promising strategy for avoiding some drawbacks associated with the use of pure enzymes, especially their high cost. The use of free cells is also challenging, since cell lysis can also occur under the reaction conditions. However, cell immobilization has been employed to increase the catalytic potential of enzymes by extending their lifetimes in organic solvents and non-natural environments. Besides, immobilized cells maintain their biocatalytic performance for several reaction cycles. Considering the above-mentioned arguments, several authors have synthesized different classes of chiral compounds such as alcohols, amines, carboxylic acids, amides, sulfides and lactones by means of immobilized cells. Our aim was to discuss the main aspects of the production of chiral compounds using immobilized cells as a source of biocatalysts, except under fermentation conditions.
More Related Videos
06:31Highly Stereoselective Synthesis of 1,6-Ketoesters Mediated by Ionic Liquids: A Three-component Reaction Enabling Rapid Access to a New Class of Low Molecular Weight Gelators
Published on: November 27, 2015
09:14Enzymatic Cascade Reactions for the Synthesis of Chiral Amino Alcohols from L-lysine
Published on: February 16, 2018
Related Concept Videos
Prochirality
Chirality in Nature
Chirality
Chiral objects exhibit a sense of handedness when they interact with another chiral object. For example, our left foot can only fit in the left shoe and not in the right shoe. Achiral objects — objects that have...
Reduction of Alkenes: Asymmetric Catalytic Hydrogenation
The metal catalyst used can be either heterogeneous or homogeneous. When hydrogenation of an alkene generates a chiral center, a pair of enantiomeric products is expected to form. However, an enantiomeric excess of one of the products can be facilitated using an enantioselective reaction or an...
Molecules with Multiple Chiral Centers
Regioselectivity and Stereochemistry of Acid-Catalyzed Hydration