Laboratory of organic chemistry and biocatalysis

 Biocatalysis is an emerging tool for the synthesis of useful chemicals. Search for new specific enzymatic activities allows enlargement of the biocatalysts applications in organic synthesis.
 Bioconversion interests are numerous: synthesis of chiral compounds (generally formation of one single enantiomer , most of the time enzymatic reactions are stereoselective), more effective and less polluant processes (reduced use of organic solvent). In an ecologic point of view, using biocatalysts is a change for the better and part of the green chemistry development.
 green chemistry

 Research

Team
Research themes
Equipment
Publications

Team

 Group leader: Anne Zaparucha, professor, University of Evry Val d’Essonne. Contact: E-mail, Tel : 33(0)1 60 87 45 78

 Carine Vergne, research scientist, CEA. Contact: E-mail , Tel : 33(0)1 60 87 36 13

 Pierre-Loïc Saaidi, assistant professor, Université d’Evry Val d’Essonne. Contact: E-mail, Tel : 33(0)1 60 87 36 13

 Aurélie Fossey, chemistry technician, CEA. Contact: E-mail, Tel : 33(0)1 60 87 84 99

 Franck Bordier, PhD student, Universite d’Evry Val d’Essonne. Contact: E-mail, Tel : 33(0)1 60 87 84 99

 Damien Baud, PhD student, Universite d’Evry Val d’Essonne. Contact : E-mail , Tel : 33(0)1 60 87 84 99

 Anthony Flourieusse, undergraduate, IUT Orsay. Contact : E-mail , Tel : 33(0)1 60 87 84 99

Former members:
 Yanis Frikha, undergraduate, Ecole Supérieure de Chimie Physique et Electronique de Lyon.
 Julien Cuccaro, undergraduate, Ecole Supérieure de Chimie Physique et Electronique de Lyon.
 Shangwen Zhuang, undergraduate, Ecole Supérieure de Chimie Physique et Electronique de Lyon.
 Emeline Larondeau, undergraduate, Université d’Evry Val d’Essonne.
 Marine Harari, undergraduate, ParisSud Orsay University.

Introduction

 The laboratory (LCOB) was created in October 2008 to complete a multidisciplinary approach of new enzymatic bioconversion reaction identifications in bacteria, based on genomic analysis. Our work focuses on the development of synthetic methods affording fine chemicals such as non proteinogenic aminoacids and chiral building blocks, through one or more biocatalytic steps. The search of the targeted enzymatic activities is conducted by genomic approach supported by the diversity of the Genoscope bacterial strains collection and by the Cloaca maxima metagenome. The enzymatic screenings are carried out by the Laboratory for enzymatic cloning and screening LCAB headed by Veronique de Berardinis.

The positive hits are validated by survey of the enzymatic activities (substrate specificity, stereoselectivity and specificity) and used in enzymatic or chemoenzymatic synthesis. The targeted enzymatic activities are difficult or “impossible” organic reactions of the classical organic chemistry.

We develop two axes:

• internal projects: targeting an enzymatic activity; the LCAB furnishes the candidate enzymes; we run a study of methodology, activity screening, selectivities survey and we examine the applications in organic synthesis in enzymatic and / or chemoenzymatic pathways.
• transverse projects: multidisciplinary approach (bioinformatic, biochemistry and chemistry) for new enzymatic activities survey.