Redox Biocatalysis. Fundamentals and Applications. By Daniela Gamenara, Gustavo A. Seoane,...
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Redox Biocatalysis Oxidoreductases form a broad class of enzymes that are capable of reduction/oxida- tion processes. Generally, these enzymes catalyze redox reactions that are characterized by electron transfer. The main reason for the interest of synthetic chemists and biotechnologists in oxidoreductases is the ability of these enzymes to catalyze regio-, chemo-, and stereoselective reactions where chemical catalysts often fail. Besides that, oxidoreductases are often considered as ideal systems for “green” chemistry. Depending on their three-dimensional structure and on the cofactors involved, oxidoreductases follow diverse and complex mechanisms of electron transfer that have been the focus of numerous biochemical and mechanistic studies for several decades. The class of oxidoreductases includes a huge variety of biotechnologically relevant enzyme groups, such as dehydrogenases, oxygenases, oxidases, and peroxidases. For each of these groups (and even for individual enzymes) numerous books, book articles, and journal reviews have appeared in recent years, including those that focus particularly on biocatalysis. These reports often describe very specific aspects of individual redox enzymes from an expert point of view. Moreover, this research area is undergoing rapid development, and consequently the reviews of progress quickly become outdated. The authors of the book Redox Biocatalysis: Fundamentals and Applications—D. Gamenara, G.A. Seoane, P. Saenz-MȖndez, and P. Domȷnguez de Marȷa—have taken up the challenge to summa- rize the knowledge gained during the past three decades about the main groups of redox enzymes. They present an overview that is mainly focused on reactions catalyzed by these redox enzymes, cover- ing the functional mechanisms and industrial appli- cations, starting with very early reports and ending with recent achievements in this field of research. The book is composed of 8 chapters. The introductory Chapter 1 briefly describes the basic chemical principles and biochemical properties of redox enzymes, along with their molecular mech- anisms. The enzymes are classified according to the cofactors and prosthetic groups which they use. Since most redox enzymes are dependent on nicotinamide cofactors, redox processes require regeneration of these cofactors to be economically feasible. Thus, Chapter 2 covers the various aspects of cofactor regeneration and describes general approaches that have been developed to avoid or minimize the use of expensive cofactors. The issues of cofactor regeneration and reaction mechanisms of particular redox enzymes in relation to certain reactions and biocatalytic processes are also further discussed in Chapters 3, 4, 5, and 8. Chapters 3–5 form the main part of the book. Here, the authors have managed to introduce a clear hierarchical structure whereby individual groups of redox enzymes are described in the corresponding dedicated chapters, while within each chapter the enzymes are classified according to the chemical reactions that they catalyze. Thus, these chapters summarize the reactions performed by various dehydrogenases, oxygenases, oxidases, and peroxidases. Although the depth of coverage varies for different enzyme groups, from very detailed to being only briefly mentioned, the reader is provided with a wealth of information on biocatalytic redox reactions and processes that are chosen from the viewpoint of organic chemists and on the basis of the synthetic applicability of these processes. Therefore, one of the main advan- tages of the book is that it provides the opportunity to compare the effectiveness and suitability of various redox enzymes for certain redox reactions (for example, laccases and peroxidases for phenolic coupling reactions, monooxygenases and peroxi- dases for epoxidations of alkenes, etc.). Chapter 6 focuses on hydrolase-mediated oxi- dations. Although it is somewhat apart from the book)s main structure, this chapter provides inter- esting information about enzyme promiscuity with regard to substrates and reaction mechanisms, and describes the design of completely new chemical activities based on known enzymes. Less informa- tive, and somewhat confusing in my opinion, is Chapter 7, which deals with many different aspects of biocatalysis. These include directed evolution of enzymes, high-throughput screening, choosing the optimum medium for redox reactions, and multi- step enzyme processes. All these aspects are barely touched upon in this chapter, and could better be included in the previous chapters with regard to specific enzymes and processes. Chapter 8 describes several recent successful industrial appli- cations of redox enzymes and discusses their prospects. Unfortunately, careful reading reveals many errors that need to be corrected, including wrong enzyme names, inaccurate formulations, and some incorrect and misleading statements. These errors reduce the quality of the book. Generally, the layout of the book is sensible, and the index is perfectly organized with regard to completeness of the entries. The book contains a large number of tables and figures, which support the text visually and aid the reader. There is some overlapping of content between the individual chapters, but this might be difficult to prevent if a certain level of completeness within each chapter has to be ach- ieved. The book includes altogether 2780 citations, Redox Biocatalysis Fundamentals and Applica- tions. By Daniela Gamenara, Gustavo A. Seoane, Patricia Saenz-MȖndez and Pablo Domȷnguez de Marȷa. John Wiley & Sons, Hoboken, 2012. 548 pp., hardcover, E 120.00.—ISBN 978- 0470874202 . Angewandte Books &&&& # 2013 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2013, 52,2–3
Transcript of Redox Biocatalysis. Fundamentals and Applications. By Daniela Gamenara, Gustavo A. Seoane,...
Redox Biocatalysis
Oxidoreductases form abroad class of enzymes that
are capable of reduction/oxida-tion processes. Generally, these
enzymes catalyze redox reactions thatare characterized by electron transfer.
The main reason for the interest ofsynthetic chemists and biotechnologists in
oxidoreductases is the ability of these enzymesto catalyze regio-, chemo-, and stereoselectivereactions where chemical catalysts often fail.Besides that, oxidoreductases are oftenconsidered as ideal systems for “green”chemistry. Depending on their three-dimensionalstructure and on the cofactors involved,oxidoreductases follow diverse and complexmechanisms of electron transfer that have beenthe focus of numerous biochemical andmechanistic studies for several decades. Theclass of oxidoreductases includes a huge varietyof biotechnologically relevant enzyme groups,such as dehydrogenases, oxygenases, oxidases,and peroxidases. For each of these groups (andeven for individual enzymes) numerous books,book articles, and journal reviews have appearedin recent years, including those that focusparticularly on biocatalysis. These reports oftendescribe very specific aspects of individual redoxenzymes from an expert point of view.Moreover, this research area is undergoing rapiddevelopment, and consequently the reviews ofprogress quickly become outdated.
The authors of the book Redox Biocatalysis:Fundamentals and Applications—D. Gamenara,G. A. Seoane, P. Saenz-M�ndez, and P. Dom�nguezde Mar�a—have taken up the challenge to summa-rize the knowledge gained during the past threedecades about the main groups of redox enzymes.They present an overview that is mainly focused onreactions catalyzed by these redox enzymes, cover-ing the functional mechanisms and industrial appli-cations, starting with very early reports and endingwith recent achievements in this field of research.
The book is composed of 8 chapters. Theintroductory Chapter 1 briefly describes the basicchemical principles and biochemical properties ofredox enzymes, along with their molecular mech-anisms. The enzymes are classified according to thecofactors and prosthetic groups which they use.
Since most redox enzymes are dependent onnicotinamide cofactors, redox processes requireregeneration of these cofactors to be economicallyfeasible. Thus, Chapter 2 covers the various aspectsof cofactor regeneration and describes generalapproaches that have been developed to avoid orminimize the use of expensive cofactors. The issuesof cofactor regeneration and reaction mechanisms
of particular redox enzymes in relation to certainreactions and biocatalytic processes are also furtherdiscussed in Chapters 3, 4, 5, and 8.
Chapters 3–5 form the main part of the book.Here, the authors have managed to introduce aclear hierarchical structure whereby individualgroups of redox enzymes are described in thecorresponding dedicated chapters, while withineach chapter the enzymes are classified accordingto the chemical reactions that they catalyze. Thus,these chapters summarize the reactions performedby various dehydrogenases, oxygenases, oxidases,and peroxidases. Although the depth of coveragevaries for different enzyme groups, from verydetailed to being only briefly mentioned, thereader is provided with a wealth of informationon biocatalytic redox reactions and processes thatare chosen from the viewpoint of organic chemistsand on the basis of the synthetic applicability ofthese processes. Therefore, one of the main advan-tages of the book is that it provides the opportunityto compare the effectiveness and suitability ofvarious redox enzymes for certain redox reactions(for example, laccases and peroxidases for phenoliccoupling reactions, monooxygenases and peroxi-dases for epoxidations of alkenes, etc.).
Chapter 6 focuses on hydrolase-mediated oxi-dations. Although it is somewhat apart from thebook�s main structure, this chapter provides inter-esting information about enzyme promiscuity withregard to substrates and reaction mechanisms, anddescribes the design of completely new chemicalactivities based on known enzymes. Less informa-tive, and somewhat confusing in my opinion, isChapter 7, which deals with many different aspectsof biocatalysis. These include directed evolution ofenzymes, high-throughput screening, choosing theoptimum medium for redox reactions, and multi-step enzyme processes. All these aspects are barelytouched upon in this chapter, and could better beincluded in the previous chapters with regard tospecific enzymes and processes. Chapter 8describes several recent successful industrial appli-cations of redox enzymes and discusses theirprospects.
Unfortunately, careful reading reveals manyerrors that need to be corrected, including wrongenzyme names, inaccurate formulations, and someincorrect and misleading statements. These errorsreduce the quality of the book. Generally, thelayout of the book is sensible, and the index isperfectly organized with regard to completeness ofthe entries. The book contains a large number oftables and figures, which support the text visuallyand aid the reader. There is some overlapping ofcontent between the individual chapters, but thismight be difficult to prevent if a certain level ofcompleteness within each chapter has to be ach-ieved. The book includes altogether 2780 citations,
Redox BiocatalysisFundamentals and Applica-tions. By Daniela Gamenara,Gustavo A. Seoane, PatriciaSaenz-M�ndez and PabloDom�nguez de Mar�a. JohnWiley & Sons, Hoboken,2012. 548 pp., hardcover,E 120.00.—ISBN 978-0470874202
.AngewandteBooks
&&&& � 2013 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2013, 52, 2 – 3
which include references to the most importantoriginal papers and review articles.
Each chapter begins with an introduction out-lining its content and defining the topics that arediscussed, and ends with concluding remarks and acomprehensive up-to-date bibliography. Thus, thisbook can be considered as a collection of inde-pendent reviews that is appropriate for experts inthe fields of biotechnology and synthetic organic
chemistry (at least for Chapters 1–5). It also hassome characteristics of a textbook, and thereforecan be recommended for young researchersinvolved in this field.
Vlada UrlacherHeinrich Heine University of D�sseldorf (Germany)
DOI: 10.1002/anie.201303335
AngewandteChemie
&&&&Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2013, 52, 2 – 3 � 2013 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim www.angewandte.org
