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Content archived on 2024-06-18

Optimized esterase biocatalysts for cost-effective industrial production

Objective

OPTIBIOCAT is a 48 months project aimed at developing biocatalysts based on feruloyl esterases (FAEs) and glucuronoyl esterases (GEs) for production of phenolic fatty- and sugar- esters with antioxidant activity for cosmetic industry, expanding the number/type of industrial biotransformations. Selected FAEs and GEs available within the consortium will be improved for their thermo- and solvent- resistance and substrate specificity by site-directed mutagenesis and directed evolution. Novel enzymes will be discovered by mining for new genes from available genomes. An inventory of novel FAEs and GEs will be developed including 50 fungal and 500 bacterial esterases, 25 site-directed and 20 directed evolved mutants. Enzymatic performances will be optimized to enhance the yield (up to the theoretical yield of 100%) and productivity (up to 0.5-1 g/l/h) of reactions giving the main targeted antioxidants: butyl ferulate, p-coumarate, caffeate, sinapate and 5-O-(trans-feruloyl)-arabinofuranose (using FAEs), glucuronate and benzyl glucuronate (using GEs). FAEs and GEs will be also tested for production of other compounds with improved biological activity and properties of hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity for cosmetic applications. Cost-effective methods will be developed for production of the new biocatalysts, in the g/L scale, and for their technical application to produce antioxidants for cosmetic industry, up to 20L. Enzyme immobilization will increase their recyclability up to ten cycles. The ability of the developed catalysts to work in conditions miming the industrial ones with reduced use of solvents and lower temperature than the chemical routes will be demonstrated. The techno-economic viability and environmental friendliness will be assessed considering a full industrial scale scenario. OPTIBIOCAT involves a highly skilled and multidisciplinary partnership of 16 partners from 8 EU countries, and it is a strongly industry driven project through the participation of 8 SMEs and 1 large company.

Fields of science

Programme(s)

Topic(s)

Call for proposal

FP7-KBBE-2013-7-single-stage
See other projects for this call

Funding Scheme

CP-TP - Collaborative Project targeted to a special group (such as SMEs)

Coordinator

UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI NAPOLI FEDERICO II
EU contribution
€ 822 319,95
Address
CORSO UMBERTO I, 40
80138 Napoli
Italy

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Region
Sud Campania Napoli
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Administrative Contact
Vincenza Faraco (Dr.)
Links
Total cost
No data

Participants (17)

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Last update: 3 January 2018

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Permalink: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/613868

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