Algal direct-air CO2 capture through interfacial enzyme immobilisation . Capturing CO2 directly from the atmosphere is challenging due to inherently slow mass transfer kinetics. This project aims to overcome this using an enzyme that can rapidly solubilise CO2 from air into water, to produce algae. By engineering the enzyme immobilisation at the air-water interface, this project will activate and protect the enzymes, increasing their lifespan and reducing costs. By understanding mass transfer an ....Algal direct-air CO2 capture through interfacial enzyme immobilisation . Capturing CO2 directly from the atmosphere is challenging due to inherently slow mass transfer kinetics. This project aims to overcome this using an enzyme that can rapidly solubilise CO2 from air into water, to produce algae. By engineering the enzyme immobilisation at the air-water interface, this project will activate and protect the enzymes, increasing their lifespan and reducing costs. By understanding mass transfer and enzyme activity in the interfacial immobilisation media, floating enzyme rafts can be developed for deployment over expansive areas, facilitating large-scale conversion of atmospheric CO2 into algae-derived fuels, feeds and chemicals.Read moreRead less
Combining new synthetic biology tools to boost crop CO2 capture and growth. A solution for improving crop yield is to enhance the carbon dioxide fixation properties of the enzyme Rubisco whose inefficient activity often limits plant growth. This project makes use of new synthetic biology capabilities to artificially evolve Rubisco in the laboratory and select for new versions with improved performance. These beneficial changes will be introduced into crop Rubisco using targeted gene editing appr ....Combining new synthetic biology tools to boost crop CO2 capture and growth. A solution for improving crop yield is to enhance the carbon dioxide fixation properties of the enzyme Rubisco whose inefficient activity often limits plant growth. This project makes use of new synthetic biology capabilities to artificially evolve Rubisco in the laboratory and select for new versions with improved performance. These beneficial changes will be introduced into crop Rubisco using targeted gene editing approaches and the improvements in photosynthesis, growth and yield evaluated. This information will aid complimentary biotechnological efforts seeking to supercharge photosynthesis and help deliver the second Green Revolution needed to meet the improvement required in future agriculture productivity and resource use.Read moreRead less
New biocatalysts for selective chemical oxidations under extreme conditions. This project will identify and design new enzyme biocatalysts which function under extreme conditions such as elevated temperature and high concentrations of peroxides. These enzymes will be sourced from microorganisms which are located in extreme biological environments e.g. hot springs (the so-called extremophiles). The expected outcome of this project are the identification of robust enzymes which can catalyse select ....New biocatalysts for selective chemical oxidations under extreme conditions. This project will identify and design new enzyme biocatalysts which function under extreme conditions such as elevated temperature and high concentrations of peroxides. These enzymes will be sourced from microorganisms which are located in extreme biological environments e.g. hot springs (the so-called extremophiles). The expected outcome of this project are the identification of robust enzymes which can catalyse selective oxidation reactions in complex organic molecules, such as steroids. The new biocatalysts developed in this project will have significant benefit in the development of new routes to access bespoke molecules of value in fine chemical synthesis and drug development.
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Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE240100502
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$424,875.00
Summary
Building Molecular Complexity Through Enzyme-Enabled Synthesis. Many valuable natural molecules are too complex to be commercially synthesised by current technologies. Despite advances in synthetic chemistry there is great need to adopt the elegant biocatalytic strategies for complex molecule synthesis found in nature, employing sophisticated enzyme catalysts. This interdisciplinary research program aims to address the shortcomings of traditional synthetic methods through the development of enzy ....Building Molecular Complexity Through Enzyme-Enabled Synthesis. Many valuable natural molecules are too complex to be commercially synthesised by current technologies. Despite advances in synthetic chemistry there is great need to adopt the elegant biocatalytic strategies for complex molecule synthesis found in nature, employing sophisticated enzyme catalysts. This interdisciplinary research program aims to address the shortcomings of traditional synthetic methods through the development of enzyme catalysts to rapidly generate complex molecular structures. These novel molecules can be readily converted into pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals leading to advancements in the bio-enabled production and application of organic molecules in these vital fields. Read moreRead less
Nano-reactors: Protein cages as reusable scaffolds for designer enzymes. This project aims to develop robust protein cages derived from the coats of viruses to contain heat-stable P450 enzymes, for use as specialised protein bio-catalysts in chemical industries. A valuable chemical precursor of renewable bio-plastics will be produced from seed oils by enzymes, reducing the use of fossil fuels. This synthetic biology approach combines biotechnology, nanotechnology and protein engineering to estab ....Nano-reactors: Protein cages as reusable scaffolds for designer enzymes. This project aims to develop robust protein cages derived from the coats of viruses to contain heat-stable P450 enzymes, for use as specialised protein bio-catalysts in chemical industries. A valuable chemical precursor of renewable bio-plastics will be produced from seed oils by enzymes, reducing the use of fossil fuels. This synthetic biology approach combines biotechnology, nanotechnology and protein engineering to establish a plant-based platform biotechnology for using enzymes as catalysts to make high-value molecules. The project aims to show how to engineer clean, sustainable chemistry in designer nano-environments. This should make synthetic processes more sustainable and enhance advanced chemical manufacturing in Australia.Read moreRead less
ARC Centre of Excellence in Quantum Biotechnology. ARC Centre of Excellence in Quantum Biotechnology. The ARC Centre of Excellence in Quantum Biotechnology aims to develop paradigm-shifting quantum technologies to observe biological processes and transform our understanding of life. It seeks to create technologies that go far beyond what is possible today, from portable brain imagers to super-fast single protein sensors, and to use them to unravel key problems including how enzymes catalyse reac ....ARC Centre of Excellence in Quantum Biotechnology. ARC Centre of Excellence in Quantum Biotechnology. The ARC Centre of Excellence in Quantum Biotechnology aims to develop paradigm-shifting quantum technologies to observe biological processes and transform our understanding of life. It seeks to create technologies that go far beyond what is possible today, from portable brain imagers to super-fast single protein sensors, and to use them to unravel key problems including how enzymes catalyse reactions and how higher brain function emerges from networks of neurons. By building a diverse, multidisciplinary, and industry-engaged ecosystem, the Centre means to develop our future leaders at the interface of quantum science and biology and drive Australian innovation across manufacturing, energy, agriculture, health, and national security.Read moreRead less
Novel chemoenzymatic synthesis and bioconjugation of peptides and proteins. This project aims to solve the critical difficulty of producing the complex peptide insulin and related insulin-like peptides (INSLs) and their analogues. The project will use unique, recyclable enzymes which ligate smaller peptide segments with extraordinary site and substrate selectivity. The expected outcome of the project is novel, cheaper and scalable, enzyme-mediated engineering of this critical class of peptides a ....Novel chemoenzymatic synthesis and bioconjugation of peptides and proteins. This project aims to solve the critical difficulty of producing the complex peptide insulin and related insulin-like peptides (INSLs) and their analogues. The project will use unique, recyclable enzymes which ligate smaller peptide segments with extraordinary site and substrate selectivity. The expected outcome of the project is novel, cheaper and scalable, enzyme-mediated engineering of this critical class of peptides as biological probes and potential therapeutic agents.Read moreRead less
Industrial biotechnology for the manufacture of alkaloid pharmaceuticals. Drugs that treat opioid dependence and overdose are increasingly needed but their manufacture is difficult, inefficient and expensive. This project aims to develop enzymatic N-demethylation as a simpler and more sustainable approach to the manufacture and modification of opioid antagonists, alkaloids and other drug targets. It will increase our understanding of enzymatic N-demethylation and address engineering and biotechn ....Industrial biotechnology for the manufacture of alkaloid pharmaceuticals. Drugs that treat opioid dependence and overdose are increasingly needed but their manufacture is difficult, inefficient and expensive. This project aims to develop enzymatic N-demethylation as a simpler and more sustainable approach to the manufacture and modification of opioid antagonists, alkaloids and other drug targets. It will increase our understanding of enzymatic N-demethylation and address engineering and biotechnology challenges to improve yield and product isolation and concentration. Improvements in drug manufacturing processes will assist drug affected communities and industry will benefit from value adding, greater market share and flexibility, increased innovation and de-risked processes and new products. Read moreRead less