Also: biocatalysts, enzymes in industry
Enzymes are proteins that speed up chemical reactions. Industry uses them in laundry detergents, food processing, textiles, biofuels and medicine manufacturing, often replacing harsher chemical steps.
Readiness: lab lab studies · prototype demonstrated objects · commercial products or buildings in real use · review summaries of other studies.
Savile and colleagues evolved a transaminase enzyme to make the drug sitagliptin, replacing a metal-catalysed step in manufacturing.
Built / tested: pharmaceutical manufacturing process
As reported in: Savile, Janey, Mundorff et al. (2010). Biocatalytic Asymmetric Synthesis of Chiral Amines from Ketones Applied to Sitagliptin Manufacture. Science. doi:10.1126/science.1188934
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Schmid and colleagues reviewed how enzymes and whole cells were used in industrial chemical production and where the field was heading.
As reported in: Schmid, Dordick, Hauer et al. (2001). Industrial biocatalysis today and tomorrow. Nature. doi:10.1038/35051736
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Kirk, Borchert and Fuglsang reviewed enzyme uses in detergents, food, feed, textiles and other industries.
As reported in: Kirk, Borchert, Fuglsang (2002). Industrial enzyme applications. Current Opinion in Biotechnology. doi:10.1016/S0958-1669(02)00328-2
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