Blue light sensor enzyme
Themes: Chemistry, bio- & process technology, Energy
A TRL is a measure to indicate the matureness of a developing technology. When an innovative idea is discovered it is often not directly suitable for application. Usually such novel idea is subjected to further experimentation, testing and prototyping before it can be implemented. The image below shows how to read TRL’s to categorise the innovative ideas.
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Summary of the project
The focus of this project lies on the selective decarboxylation of natural (fatty) acids into the corresponding hydrocarbons. The enzyme used is a photoactivated decarboxylase (i.e. it needs illumination with blue light to be active). Especially long-chainfatty acids are converted highly selectively.
Current research effort focus on the application of the system to turn waste fats and oils into fuels and to broaden the substrate scope even more.
What's next?
The next step for this research is to apply the blue light switch function in a larger scale set up.
Dr. Frank Hollmann
Additional information
<link tnw over-de-faculteit afdelingen biotechnology research-groups biocatalysis hollmann-group>Hollmann Group