Biocatalyst Development
Biocatalyst Development for Efficient, Selective Chemical Routes
We develop and engineer enzymes as catalysts for defined chemical transformations, from discovery and screening through reaction development and scale-up.
What Biocatalyst Development Is
Biocatalyst development uses enzymes as catalysts to replace or augment traditional chemical synthesis steps. Instead of relying solely on synthetic small-molecule or metal catalysts, the catalytic entity is a protein that can be discovered, engineered, and formatted for a target reaction. This approach is increasingly used to access novel synthetic routes where selectivity, solvent burden, or route efficiency are limiting.
A development program typically begins with enzyme discovery or sourcing, followed by protein engineering to improve activity, stability, and selectivity for the reaction of interest. The engineered biocatalyst is then formatted and tested under process-relevant conditions, with analytical characterization guiding each iteration and scale-up considerations addressed as the route matures.
Regio-, Chemo-, and Stereoselectivity
Enzymes are highly selective catalysts with excellent functional group tolerance and reaction specificity, which can reduce wasteful protecting-group chemistry and side-product formation.
- High stereoselectivity for defined transformations
- Functional group tolerance across diverse substrates
- Potential to simplify multi-step synthetic routes
Accelerated Reaction Times
Enzymes accelerate reactions by orders of magnitude, and cascade or one-pot multi-step transformations can combine several synthetic steps into a single operation.
- Reduced reaction times versus comparable chemical steps
- Cascade reactions for multistep transformations
- Throughput improvements in process-relevant formats
Milder Reaction Conditions
Biocatalytic reactions are typically carried out in mild aqueous conditions with water as the major solvent and often at lower temperatures, reducing reliance on hazardous solvents.
- Water as the primary reaction solvent
- Lower-temperature operation typical
- Alignment with evolving regulatory drivers
Capabilities Across the Workflow
Biocatalyst development spans several connected disciplines. Our services are structured so that discovery, engineering, reaction development, and analytical characterization inform one another rather than running as isolated steps.
The table below summarizes the main capability areas and what each typically covers. Exact scope, target reactions, and analytical depth are defined case by case in the project statement of work.
| Capability Area | What It Covers | Typical Inputs | Typical Outputs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biocatalyst identification | Sourcing strains, generating genomic DNA protocols, sequencing and analyzing genomes, and building enzyme shortlists | Target activity evidence, substrate or reaction description | Enzyme shortlist and screening libraries for activity confirmation |
| Enzyme expression | Expression across microbial hosts such as Escherichia, Pichia (Komagataella), Bacillus, and various actinomycetes | Selected enzyme candidates and host preferences | Expressed enzyme material suitable for assay and reaction testing |
| Enzyme engineering | Engineering improved properties including solvent tolerance and thermal stability, supported by bioinformatics-guided design | Parent enzyme, performance gaps, target reaction conditions | Engineered variants with improved performance characteristics |
| Reaction and process optimization | Reaction optimization using validated analytical tools and Design of Experiments approaches for multivariate analysis | Biocatalyst, substrates, co-factors, and reaction conditions | Optimized reaction conditions and process documentation |
How an Engagement Works
Projects are structured as a sequence of connected stages, with analytical characterization feeding back into engineering and process decisions at each step.
Enzyme Discovery and Sourcing
We begin from evidence of target activity, source candidate strains, generate protocols for growth and genomic DNA preparation, and sequence and analyze genomes to build an enzyme shortlist.
Screening and Selection
Candidate enzymes are screened to confirm activity against the target reaction, and the most promising biocatalysts are selected for further engineering based on measured performance.
Protein Engineering
Selected enzymes are engineered for improved activity, stability, and selectivity, with bioinformatics-guided design used alongside experimental screening to prioritize variants.
Reaction and Process Development
Engineered biocatalysts are tested under process-relevant conditions, with validated analytical tools and Design of Experiments approaches used to locate true optima in experimental space.
Customization and Differentiators
Biocatalyst programs are inherently target-specific. The scope of discovery, engineering, and process work is defined around the reaction, substrate, and downstream application rather than applied as a fixed template.
The following areas are commonly customized during scoping discussions.
Sourcing Breadth
Enzyme sourcing can draw on microbial strain collections and genomic analysis, with shortlists built around the specific target activity rather than a single predefined enzyme family.
- Strain sourcing and genomic DNA preparation
- Genome sequencing and analysis
- Enzyme shortlist generation
Property Targets
Engineering objectives are set per project and may include improved solvent tolerance, thermal stability, or selectivity, supported by bioinformatics-guided design.
- Solvent tolerance improvement
- Thermal stability improvement
- Selectivity and activity optimization
Reaction and Isolation
Reaction optimization and product isolation procedures are adapted to the unique problems of biocatalysis, with parallel isolation experiments used to support rapid optimization.
- Design of Experiments reaction optimization
- Parallel isolation experiments
- Process documentation for transfer
Service Scope
The table below outlines the parameters that are typically discussed and defined during project scoping. Final scope, analytical depth, and validation steps are agreed in the statement of work.
Because biocatalyst programs differ substantially by target reaction and substrate, scope is set case by case rather than from a fixed package.
| Parameter | Typical Project Scope | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Target reaction | Defined per project based on the transformation of interest | Substrate and product specifications agreed at kickoff | Statement of work |
| Enzyme sourcing | Strain sourcing and genomic analysis scoped to the target activity | Shortlist size depends on available candidates | Statement of work |
| Expression host | Selected from available microbial hosts suited to the enzyme of interest | Host choice balances enzyme suitability and process viability | Statement of work |
| Engineering depth | Scoped according to performance gaps identified during screening | Iterations defined by measured progress against targets | Statement of work |
| Analytical characterization | Validated analytical tools selected for the reaction and substrate | Activity and performance assays agreed during scoping | Statement of work |
| Scale-up support | Process documentation and transfer support tailored to client needs | Includes assessment of scale-up facilities when required | Statement of work |
Applications and Deliverables
Biocatalyst development supports routes where selectivity, solvent reduction, or route efficiency are priorities. Deliverables are structured around what the client needs next, whether that is an engineered biocatalyst, a developed process, or material for further study.
The following deliverable formats are commonly discussed during scoping.
Engineered Biocatalyst Supply
Engineered enzymes can be supplied at gram scale to support clients in developing their own biocatalysis reactions, with larger quantities addressed through scale-up arrangements.
- Gram-scale enzyme supply
- Material suitable for client-side reaction development
- Scale-up arrangements discussed during scoping
Developed Process and Documentation
Process documentation and support for process transfer are typical outcomes of development collaborations, with support tailored to client needs.
- Process documentation generation
- Technology transfer support
- Scale-up facility assessment support
Compound Supply with Analysis
Where a finished compound is required, the full biocatalysis workflow can be carried out to provide compound supply accompanied by a Certificate of Analysis.
- Full workflow execution to compound
- Certificate of Analysis provided
- Supports downstream optimization studies
| Driver | How Biocatalysis Addresses It | Practical Implication | Consideration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Selectivity | Enzymes offer high regio-, chemo-, and stereoselectivity with good functional group tolerance. | Reduced protecting-group chemistry and fewer side products | Selectivity targets set per reaction |
| Reaction efficiency | Enzymes accelerate reactions by orders of magnitude and can enable cascade transformations. | Shorter reaction times and combined synthetic steps | Depends on the specific enzyme and substrate |
| Supply chain independence | Developing an in-house biocatalytic process can reduce dependency on external catalyst supply chains. | Potential for more stable long-term route economics | Assessed against the existing route |
| Sustainability | Mild aqueous conditions with water as the major solvent and typically lower operating temperatures | Reduced reliance on hazardous and fossil fuel-dependent solvents | Aligns with evolving regulatory expectations |
Analytical and Bioinformatics Support
Analytical characterization and bioinformatics run alongside the experimental workflow rather than as a separate service. Validated analytical tools are used to measure enzyme performance, and bioinformatics-guided design helps prioritize engineering variants and interpret screening data.
Synthetic chemistry support is also available where substrate availability or route feasibility needs to be evaluated before committing to a development program.
Working With Us
Engagements typically begin with a scoping discussion covering the target reaction, substrate, and downstream application. From there, the discovery, engineering, and process development stages are defined in a statement of work.
Support is tailored to client needs, including help with the selection and assessment of scale-up facilities where relevant to the program.
FAQ
How does biocatalyst development differ from fermentation or metabolic engineering?
Biocatalyst development focuses on designing and applying enzymes as catalysts for defined chemical transformations. Fermentation and metabolic engineering instead focus on producing compounds through living cell metabolism, so strain construction and pathway engineering are not part of the standard biocatalyst development workflow.
Is directed evolution the only engineering approach used?
No. Directed evolution is one powerful enzyme engineering strategy, but biocatalyst development also includes enzyme discovery, rational design, bioinformatics-guided design, process development, and scale-up. The mix of approaches is selected per project based on the target reaction and the performance gaps identified during screening.
What expression hosts can be used for the enzyme?
Expression is commonly carried out across multiple microbial hosts, including Escherichia, Pichia (Komagataella), Bacillus, and various actinomycetes. The host is selected so that it is best suited for the enzyme of interest and viable for the intended commercial process.
What deliverables can a project produce?
Depending on scope, deliverables may include an engineered biocatalyst supplied at gram scale, a developed process with documentation and transfer support, or compound supply accompanied by a Certificate of Analysis. The specific deliverables are agreed in the statement of work.
How is reaction optimization approached?
Reaction optimization uses validated analytical tools and Design of Experiments approaches, allowing simultaneous multivariate analysis to locate true optima in experimental space. Product isolation procedures are adapted to the specific challenges of the biocatalytic reaction.
Can you help evaluate whether a biocatalytic route is feasible?
Yes. Where substrate availability or route feasibility is uncertain, small molecules can be synthesized to evaluate enzyme-substrate specificity, helping determine whether a manufacturing route is feasible before committing internal resources.
References
Discuss Your Biocatalyst Project
Share your target reaction, substrate, and downstream application, and we will outline a discovery, engineering, and process development scope suited to your program.