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Updated: May 17, 2025

A Customizable Approach for the Enzymatic Production and Purification of Diterpenoid Natural Products
Published on: October 4, 2019
An Update: Enzymatic Synthesis for Industrial Applications
Thomas Bayer1, Shuke Wu2, Radka Snajdrova3
1Institute of Biochemistry, Dept. of Biotechnology & Enzyme Catalysis, Greifswald University, Felix-Hausdorff-Str. 4, 17487, Greifswald, Germany.
Abstract:
Supported by rapid technological advancements, biocatalytic applications have matured into sustainable, scalable, and cost-competitive alternatives to established chemical catalysis. This review presents the most recent examples of enzyme-based solutions for the manufacturing of molecules with extended carbon-carbon frameworks and multiple stereogenic centers at commercial scale, including peptide building blocks, (rare) sugars, synthetic (oligo)nucleotides, and terpenoids, such as (-)-Ambrox®. Novel enzyme classes are highlighted along with their potential applications-the synthesis of DNA/RNA, the depolymerization of synthetic plastics, or fully enzymatic protection/deprotection schemes-pointing toward the diversification and broader industrial utilization of biocatalysis-based processes.
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