Projects
EVZYM: A new source of native human targets in high throughput screening (HTS) of enzyme inhibitors – TMPRSS2 as an example. University of Antwerp
Exploring the valorization potential of Starmerella bombicola lactone esterase: a novel enzyme for green catalysis Ghent University
Lactone esterase (SBLE) is unique enzyme isolated from Starmerella bombicola, a yeast that is nowadays used for the production of sophorolipids; biological surfactants that found applications in environmental cleaning and in household and cosmetic products. We previously proved that this enzyme is catalyzing a specific reaction, i.e. the intramolecular esterification of the acidic sophorolipids, which results in a lactonic form that has ...
Guided by Nature: enzyme tunnel evolution as a tool for functional adaptation Ghent University
Tailored-made biocatalysts that meet specific industrial or academic demands can be developed through enzyme engineering. By mutating one or several amino acids, the specificity or selectivity of enzymes can be altered to unlock novel and effective synthetic routes towards valuable compounds. Enzyme engineers typically target amino acids in the active site. But before reaching the active site, ligands first have to migrate through an access ...
Self-assembling Multi Layer Enzyme Network for Flow Biocatalysis KU Leuven
Unlocking Synthetic Biology of Deoxy Sugars via Enzyme Engineering and Biocatalytic Cascades Ghent University
Deoxysugars are important building blocks of several bioactive carbohydrates and derivatives (e.g. glycopeptide antibiotics). Their further exploration is, however, severely hampered by the complex and expensive procedures that are currently required for their production. In this project, new enzymes will be developed and integrated in artificial biosynthetic pathways that make use of sucrose as cheap and abundant starting material.
Rational Design of New Bio-based Carriers for Advanced Enzyme Immobilization KU Leuven
Cellulose and xylan have considerable untapped potential for valorization in the current economy. From cellulose, it is possible to design highly functionalized spherical beads with applications as enzyme immobilization and drug release. On the other hand, xylan is of great interest in the preparation of prebiotic compounds. These prebiotics exhibit great benefits to human health. In this PhD work, a more sustainable and circular bead ...
Novel enzyme engineering methodology: VersaTile Shuffling Ghent University
VersaTile Shuffling is a new and robust protein engineering technology that offers numerous previously impossible opportunities to improve the properties of proteins or to create proteins with new functions. Various fields of application ranging from industrial enzymes to antibodies, aptamers and vaccines are envisaged. During the recent months we have been able to build an extensive experimental dataset that underpins the versatility of ...
Exploration of sucrose analogues enabled by enzyme and process engineering Ghent University
Sugar has gained somewhat of a bad reputation because of its contribution to obesitas and related diseases. Although other carbohydrates can offer health benefits with respect to cariogenic, caloric and prebiotic profile, very few have been systematically evaluated as alternative for classical table sugar. In this project, two analogues of sucrose will be explored in which the fructose moiety is replaced by either allulose (3-epimer) or ...