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Related Experiment Video

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Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization of Functionalized Vinyl Monomers Using Perylene as a Visible Light Photocatalyst

Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization of Functionalized Vinyl Monomers Using Perylene as a Visible Light Photocatalyst

Published on: April 22, 2016

Engineered myoglobin as a catalyst for atom transfer radical cyclisation.

Andriy Lubskyy¹, Chao Guo², Robert J Chadwick²

¹Adolphe Merkle Institute, University of Fribourg, Chemin des Verdiers 4,1700, Fribourg, Switzerland. michela.pellizzoni@unif.ch.

Chemical Communications (Cambridge, England)

|September 12, 2022

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Researchers engineered myoglobin into an artificial metalloenzyme for atom transfer radical cyclization. This novel catalyst efficiently synthesizes gamma-lactams from unsaturated compounds, even within whole cells.

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Area of Science:

Biochemistry and synthetic chemistry
Enzyme engineering and catalysis

Background:

Myoglobin, a heme protein, is typically involved in oxygen transport.
Wild-type myoglobin is inactive in catalyzing radical cyclization reactions.

Purpose of the Study:

To engineer myoglobin into an artificial metalloenzyme capable of catalyzing atom transfer radical cyclization (ATRC).
To synthesize gamma-lactams using this engineered myoglobin catalyst.

Main Methods:

Site-directed mutagenesis of myoglobin to alter its active site.
Transformation of myoglobin into a catalyst for intramolecular atom transfer radical additions.
Testing the catalytic activity in purified protein, cell lysate, and whole cells.

Main Results:

Mutagenesis transformed inactive myoglobin into an active catalyst for 5-exo cyclization.
The artificial metalloenzyme efficiently synthesized gamma-lactams from halogenated unsaturated compounds.
Catalytic activity was demonstrated in various biological contexts, including whole cells.

Conclusions:

Myoglobin can be successfully engineered into a novel artificial metalloenzyme for ATRC reactions.
This engineered enzyme provides a new route for synthesizing valuable gamma-lactam compounds.
The biocatalytic approach is effective in diverse cellular environments, highlighting its potential for green chemistry.