Journal Archive

Johnson Matthey Technol. Rev., 2023, 67, (4), 414
doi: 10.1595/205651323X16893254917927

In the Lab: A Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council Network in Industrial Biotechnology and Bioenergy

Johnson Matthey Technology Review features laboratory research


NON-PEER REVIEWED FEATURE
Received 3rd October 2022; Online 29th August 2023

Article Synopsis

The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) funded six Networks in Industrial Biotechnology and Bioenergy (NIBB) for a second phase in 2019 and previously 13 BBSRC NIBB for a first phase in 2014. These networks promote interactions between academia and industry to advance research along the technology readiness levels (TRLs). The networks fund collaborations that start in the region of TRL2 and Johnson Matthey contributes to the management of one of these BBSRC NIBB entitled ‘The Elements of Bioremediation, Bio-Manufacturing and Bioenergy (E3B)’. This network brings together communities working on metals in biology.

The Researcher

 

 

  • Name: Nigel J. Robinson

  • Position: Professor and Director of the E3B BBSRC NIBB

  • Department: Department of Biosciences and Department of Chemistry

  • University: Durham University

  • Address: South Road, Durham

  • Postcode: DH1 3LE

  • Country: UK

  • Email: metals.bbsrcnibb@durham.ac.uk

About the Research

Almost a half of the reactions of life are catalysed by metals. This means that a large proportion of bioindustries depend directly or indirectly on the catalytic activities of metals in proteins. Academic members work with biomanufacturing and bioenergy sectors to enhance metalloenzyme activities to generate new products and to increase the profitability and sustainability of existing products. Members also work to valorise metal-contaminated wastes and especially to develop ways to biorecover at-risk metals in valuable forms to progress towards a more sustainable circular economy.

Johnson Matthey has also partnered on the following five funded projects, four of which have reached completion:

  • BIVMiB037 with The University of Manchester, UK: ‘Exploiting the Commercial Potential of Novel Biometallic Catalysts’

  • ISCFPOCMiB041 with The University of Manchester: ‘Biosynthesis of Bimetallic Nanoparticles for Fine and Specialty Chemical Production’

  • POCE3B002 with The University of York, UK: ‘Enhancing Metal Uptake and Nanoparticle Deposition in Plants to Recover Platinum Group Metals and Gold’

  • POCE3B020 with The University of Oxford, UK: ‘FLAVH2: Establishing Feasibility for a Metalloenzyme System for Dihydrogen-Driven Flavin Recycling for Chemical Synthesis in Industrial Biotechnology’

  • BIVE3B001 with The University of Manchester: ‘Developing a Novel Chemo-Enzymatic Catalytic Cascade for the Production of Stereoselective High-Value Chemicals’. Research in progress at the time of writing.

The E3B BBSRC NIBB website hosts a ‘metalation calculator’ which allows users to simulate what metals will bind to a protein inside a living cell (Figure 1). This is of use for industrial biotechnological fermentations driven by metalloenzymes especially in engineered organisms. The metals that bind to proteins in cells depend on relative metal availabilities in combination with the binding properties of the enzyme (13). In engineered organisms these properties can become mismatched leading to mis-metalation or under-metalation. The calculator allows metalation to be simulated and then optimised either by targeted metal supplementation of the growth medium or by further engineering the organism or metalloenzyme. New versions of the calculator are being developed for strains that are commonly used in industrial biotechnology under defined culture conditions.

Fig. 1.

First version of a biological enzyme metalation calculator available on the E3B BBSRC NIBB website. New versions are being released for strains used in industrial biotechnology under standard culture conditions

References

  1. 1.
    T. R. Young, M. A. Martini, A. W. Foster, A. Glasfeld, D. Osman, R. J. Morton, E. Deery, M. J. Warren, N. J. Robinson, Nat. Commun., 2021, 12, 1195 LINK https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-21479-8
  2. 2.
    D. Osman, M. A. Martini, A. W. Foster, J. Chen, A. J. P. Scott, R. J. Morton, J. W. Steed, E. Lurie-Luke, T. G. Huggins, A. D. Lawrence, E. Deery, M. J. Warren, P. T. Chivers, N. J. Robinson, Nat. Chem. Biol., 2019, 15, (3), 241 LINK https://doi.org/10.1038/s41589-018-0211-4
  3. 3.
    A. W. Foster, T. R. Young, P. T. Chivers, N. J. Robinson, Curr. Opin. Chem. Biol., 2022, 66, 102095 LINK https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cbpa.2021.102095

 

Acknowledgements

Co-Directors of the The E3B BBSRC NIBB: Jon Lloyd, Manchester University, UK; and Martin Warren, University of Kent and Quadram Institute, Norwich, UK.

Supplementary Information

‘The Elements of Bioremediation, Biomanufacturing and Bioenergy, E3B, Metals in Biology (MiB)’ LINK https://mib-nibb.webspace.durham.ac.uk/

‘Exploiting the Commercial Potential of Novel Biometallic Catalysts’, Project No. BIVMiB037 BB/L013711/1 LINK http://mib-nibb.webspace.durham.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/56/2021/07/v3-Exploiting-the-commercial-potential-of-novel-biometallic-catalysts.pdf

‘Biosynthesis of Bimetallic Nanoparticles for Fine and Specialty Chemical Production’, Project No. ISCFPOCMiB041 BB/L013711/1 LINK http://mib-nibb.webspace.durham.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/56/2021/07/v3-Biosynthesis-of-bimetallic-nanoparticles-for-fine-and-specialty-chemical-production.pdf

‘Enhancing Metal Uptake and Nanoparticle Deposition in Plants to Recover Platinum Group Metals and Gold’, Project No. POCE3B002 BB/S009787/1 LINK https://mib-nibb.webspace.durham.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/56/2022/02/Bruce-case-study-ph2.pdf

‘Establishing Feasibility for a Metalloenzyme System for Dihydrogen-Driven Flavin Recycling for Chemical Synthesis in Industrial Biotechnology’, Project No. POCE3B020BB/S009787/1 LINK http://mib-nibb.webspace.durham.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/56/2022/04/Vincent-case-study-ph2.pdf 

Metals in Biology LINK https://twitter.com/METALSBBSRCNIBB

‘Metalation Calculators’, The Elements of Bioremediation, Biomanufacturing and Bioenergy, Research and Innovation Services, Durham University, Durham, UK LINK https://mib-nibb.webspace.durham.ac.uk/metalation-calculators/

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