Current Advances in the Enzyme Engineering of O2‐Dependent Enzymes – Boosting the Versatility and Applicability of Oxygenases and Oxidases

Abstract

AbstractOxidation reactions catalysed by O2‐dependent enzymes are gaining increasing interest in the chemical industry due to their potential to provide a more selective and sustainable alternative to conventional chemical oxidation methods. O2‐dependent enzymes, like oxidases and oxygenases, catalyse a versatile range of oxidative reactions using only molecular oxygen as an oxidant. However, their practical application on a larger scale has been limited up to this point, primarily due to factors like their low catalytic rates combined with a narrow substrate spectrum and low stability. Nonetheless, enzyme engineering studies have significantly addressed these challenges in recent years and moved O2‐dependent enzymes closer towards industrial utilisation. This review aims to concisely overview the most recent engineering approaches to O2‐dependent enzymes. We will highlight recent studies that have targeted various aspects of O2‐dependent enzymes, including activity, selectivity, stability, and substrate spectrum, focusing on engineering studies where the engineered enzymes catalysed synthetically valuable reactions.