Biotransformation#Phase II reaction
{{Short description|Chemical alteration of an exogenous substance by or in a biological system}}
Biotransformation is the biochemical modification of one chemical compound or a mixture of chemical compounds. Biotransformations can be conducted with whole cells, their lysates, or purified enzymes.{{cite journal |title=Biotransformation |url=https://goldbook.iupac.org/terms/view/B00667 |website=IUPAC Goldbook |year=2014 |doi=10.1351/goldbook.B00667 |access-date=14 February 2022|doi-access=free }} Increasingly, biotransformations are effected with purified enzymes. Major industries and life-saving technologies depend on biotransformations.{{cite book|title=Industrial biotransformations |author=Andreas Liese |author2=Karsten Seelbach |author3=Christian Wandrey|editor1-first=Andreas|editor1-last=Liese|editor2-first=Karsten|editor2-last=Seelbach|editor3-first=Christian|editor3-last=Wandrey|edition=2|publisher=Wiley-VCH|location=Weinheim|year=2006|isbn= 978-3-527-31001-2 |doi=10.1002/3527608184}}{{Ullmann|doi=10.1002/14356007.l04_l01.pub2|title=Biorefineries-Industrial Processes and Products|year=2016|last1=Kamm|first1=Birgit|last2=Gruber|first2=Patrick R.|last3=Kamm|first3=Michael|pages=1–38|isbn=978-3-527-30673-2}}
Advantages and disadvantages
Compared to the conventional production of chemicals, biotransformations are often attractive because their selectivities can be high, limiting the coproduction of undesirable coproducts. Generally operating under mild temperatures and pressures in aqueous solutions, many biotransformations are "green". The catalysts, i.e. the enzymes, are amenable to improvement by genetic manipulation.{{citation needed|date=February 2024}}
Biotechnology usually is restrained by substrate scope. Petrochemicals for example are often not amenable to biotransformations, especially on the scale required for some applications, e.g. fuels. Biotransformations can be slow and are often incompatible with high temperatures, which are employed in traditional chemical synthesis to increase rates. Enzymes are generally only stable <100 °C, and usually much lower. Enzymes, like other catalysts are poisonable. In some cases, performance or recyclability can be improved by using immobilized enzymes.{{citation needed|date=February 2024}}
Historical
Wine and beer making are examples of biotransformations that have been practiced since ancient times. Vinegar has long been produced by fermentation, involving the oxidation of ethanol to acetic acid. Cheesemaking traditionally relies on microbes to convert dairy precursors. Yogurt is produced by inoculating heat-treated milk with microorganisms such as Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus bulgaricus.{{citation needed|date=February 2024}}
Modern examples
=Pharmaceuticals=
Beta-lactam antibiotics, e.g., penicillin and cephalosporin are produced by biotransformations in an industry valued several billions of dollars. Processes are conducted in vessels up to 60,000 gal in volume. Sugars, methionine, and ammonium salts are used as C,S,N sources. Genetically modified Penicillium chrysogenum is employed for penicillin production.{{Cite journal
| last1 = Elander | first1 = R. P.
| title = Industrial production of β-lactam antibiotics
| journal = Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology
| volume = 61
| issue = 5–6
| pages = 385–392
| doi = 10.1007/s00253-003-1274-y
| year = 2003
| pmid = 12679848
| s2cid = 43996071
}}
Some steroids are hydroxylated in vitro to give drugs.
=Sugars=
High fructose corn syrup is generated by biotransformation of corn starch, which is converted to a mixture of glucose and fructose. Glucoamylase is one enzyme used in the process.{{cite book|last1=Hobbs|first1=Larry|editor1-last=BeMiller|editor1-first=James N.|editor2-last=Whistler|editor2-first=Roy L.|title=Starch: chemistry and technology|date=2009|publisher=Academic Press/Elsevier|location=London|isbn=978-0-12-746275-2|pages=797–832|edition=3rd|doi=10.1016/B978-0-12-746275-2.00021-5|chapter=21. Sweeteners from Starch: Production, Properties and Uses}}
Cyclodextrins are produced by transferases.
=Amino acids=
Amino acids are sometimes produced industrially by transaminases. In other cases, amino acids are obtained by biotransformations of peptides using peptidases.{{citation needed|date=February 2024}}
=Acrylamide=
With acrylonitrile and water as substrates, nitrile hydratase enzymes are used to produce acrylamide, a valued monomer.{{citation needed|date=February 2024}}
=Biofuels=
See also
References
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