Bioanorganische Chemie (Ward)

Merging organometallic chemistry with biotechnology

Artificial metalloenzymes

Organometallic- and enzymatic catalysis have evolved independently over the past four decades. In many respects, these approaches can be viewed as complementary. By incorporating an organometallic moiety within a protein host, we create artificial metallo-enzymes, with properties reminiscent both of homogeneous and enzymatic catalysis. The main focus of our research is to exploit such hybrid systems towards various applications.

• Enantioselective catalysis (white biotechnology)
• Synthetic biology (metabolic engineering)
• Bio-nanotechnology

In order to ensure unambiguous localisation of the organometallic moiety within the host protein, we rely on various anchoring strategies.

• Covalent anchoring exploiting carbonic anhydrase as scaffold
• Supramolecular anchoring exploiting the biotin-streptavidin couple
• Dative anchoring upon repurposing proteins with latent facial triad motifs

A Mosaic of applications

Reactions Implemented

• Hydrogenation
• Transfer hydrogenation
• Ketones, enones, imines, NAD(P)+
• Allylic substitution
• C-H activation
• Suzuki cross-coupling
• Metathesis
• Alcohol oxidation
• Sulfoxidation
• Dihydroxylation
• Peroxidation
• Michael addition
• Enzyme cascades
• DNA recognition

Current

• In vivo catalysis
• Directed evolution
• Alternative metabolism
• Cross-regulation
• Off-equilibrium thermodynamics
• Catalytic drugs
• Biofuels
• Multi-electron processes
• Artificial photosynthesis