AELMON- Artificial electron transfer and plant monooxygenases as innovative catalysts

Bild Forschungsprojekt

AELMON- Artificial electron transfer and plant monooxygenases as innovative catalysts

Period:  01.01.2012 - 31.12.2014
Partner:

Autodisplay Biotech GmbH, Phytowelt Green Technologies GmbH, Westfälische Wilhelms Universität Münster

Funder:  BMBF
Research Group:  Biochemical Engineering

The Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) of Germany has approved funding for a project of a consortium of two SMEs and two academic institutes, called AELMON. AELMON will be carried out as a corporation of the DECHEMA Research Institute (Frankfurt /Main), the Westphalian Wilhelm's University Muenster, Phytowelt Greentechnologies (Nettetal/Cologne) and Autodisplay, Düsseldorf. The project will create the basis for the exploitation of plant enzyme systems in industrial production. AELMON stands for "Artificial Electron transfer and plant monooxygenases as basis for innovative catalytic systems." The scientific justification for this project is the desire for an enhanced industrial use of plant enzymes of the P450 family. These enzymes have been well known for their outstanding features for a long time, which have not been accessible for economic exploitation in industrial synthesis.

Within the project a special emphasis will be placed on the biosynthesis of a certain terpenes, which has gained attention in cancer research due to its potent pharmacological properties. Another subproject will investigate new methods for the synthesis of building blocks for innovative plastics with premium properties.

Particular innovation potential of AELMON lies in a novel method for the production of P450 enzymes, provided by the project partners University of Muenster and Autodisplay, and in the development of a novel biotechnological method using electrochemistry. This combination of electrochemistry and biocatalysis is a focal point of research of the DECHEMA Research Institute.

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