![El CSIC obtiene su primer proyecto de colaboración público-privada H2020 en "Industrias basadas en biología"](/sites/default/files/2016-10/logo_enzox2_xl.jpg)
The CIB will host in November 15th the kick-off meeting of the EnzOx2 European Poject on “New ENZymatic OXidation/OXyfunctionalization technologies for added value bio-based products”, a H2020 Research & Innovation Action funded with € 3 million by the “Bio-Based Industries” Public-Private Partnership (www.bbi-europe.eu, with a € 3.7 billion total budget) and coordinated by Prof. Angel T. Martínez from the CIB unit of “Integrated Protein Science for Biomedicine and Biotechnology”. The project goal is to achieve the sustainable production of chemical building blocks and other added value products from plant biomass using enzymatic technologies.
Previous projects have shown the potential of oxidative enzymes in said biotransformations, including still unexplored oxidation/oxyfunctionalization reactions of sugar and lipid compounds by microbial oxidoreductases (such as oxidases and recently discovered “self-sufficient” peroxygenases). In this context, EnzOx2 plans to develop a 100% enzymatic conversion of bio-based 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) into diformylfuran, a platform chemical, and 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA), a plastic building-block, using oxidases either alone or acting in cascade with peroxygenases. On the other hand, highly (regio/stereo) selective hydroxylation of plant lipids (such as fatty acids, terpenes and steroids) by peroxygenases will be optimized for cost-effective production of selected flavours and fragrances (F&F), and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs).
The consortium includes: i) two world leaders in industrial enzymes (Novozymes) and F&F (Firmenich); ii) two chemical SMEs producing HMF (AVA-Biochem) and chiral APIs (Chiracon); iii) two specialized biotechnology SMEs (JenaBios and CLEA); iv) one technology centre in the Plastics sector (AIMPLAS); and v) three CSIC institutes (IRNAS-Seville and ICP-Madrid together with CIB) and two universities (Dresden and Delft) with expertise in enzyme reactions and bioprocess implementation. The CIB contribution to the work plan will be lead by Dr. F. Javier Ruiz-Dueñas from the Group of Biotechnology for Lignocellulosic Biomass (www.cib.csic.es/lignina/lignina_en.html) and will focus on oxidoreductase engineering for improving the activity on target substrates and in the development of an enzymatic cascade reaction for FDCA production from HMF.
More information: http://www.bbi-europe.eu/projects/enzOx2