Expanding the Enzymatic Photoredox Repertoire with PQQ-Dependent Dehydrogenases (C06)

• Subject Area: Biological and Biomimetic Chemistry
• Term: since 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 444632635

Photoexcitation has emerged as a powerful strategy to trigger new-to-nature activities in enzymes. In this project, we aim to utilize redox enzymes with a pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) cofactor for the photoenzymatic catalysis of enantioselective radical cyclization reactions. We plan to tune the biocatalysts by changing the Lewis-acidic metal ion coordinated by the cofactor and to improve their efficiency and robustness by directed evolution. Through collaborations within the CRC, we will study the PQQ system by time-resolved fluorescence and transient absorption spectroscopy to understand how the protein environment assists photocatalysis.

• DFG Programme: CRC/Transregios
• Subproject of: TRR 325: Assembly Controlled Chemical Photocatalysis
• Applicant Institution: Technische Universität München (TUM)
• Project Head: Professorin Dr. Cathleen Zeymer