Biocatalysis Faraday Discussion

Introduction

Welcome

Join us for this edition of the Faraday Discussion series. The Faraday Discussions are unique international discussion meetings that address current and emerging topics at the forefront of the physical sciences.

This meeting is for established and early-career scientists, postgraduate students and industrial researchers working on various aspects of biocatalysis. It will be of interest to researchers working in the areas of enzyme design, protein engineering and catalyst optimization, both in industry and academia, and will provide the opportunity to identify opportunities and challenges, share expertise and advance knowledge at the frontiers of this rapidly developing area.

On behalf of the organising committee, we look forward to welcoming you to London, or if you are joining us virtually, online.

Adrian Mulholland and Nick Turner
Co-chairs

Format

Faraday Discussions have a special format where primary research papers written by the speakers are distributed to all participants before the meeting, and most of the meeting is devoted to discussing the papers. All delegates at the meeting, not just speakers, have the opportunity to make comments, ask questions, or present complementary or contradictory measurements and calculations during the discussion sessions. In addition, there is a dedicated poster session where further discussion takes place. The research papers and a record of the discussion are published in the journal Faraday Discussions.

Themes

Biocatalysis, a rapidly evolving field with increasing impact in synthesis, chemical manufacturing and medicine, is being transformed by advances in biophysical and computational techniques. It is expanding into new areas of chemistry, facilitated by de novo protein design, directed evolution, incorporation of new catalytic functionality into proteins, genetic data, developing spectroscopic and structural techniques, and informed by modelling, machine learning and artificial intelligence. The four themes of this Discussion will unite researchers working in different fields (for example synthetic biology, computational chemistry and mechanistic organic and organometallic chemistry) to improve our understanding of enzyme catalytic power with a view to engineering hybrid and artificial enzymes.

Enzyme evolution, engineering and design: mechanism and dynamics
This session will focus on understanding the effects of directed evolution on biocatalysts, the practical application of directed evolution, and understanding and overcoming the limitations of protein design and directed evolution. Specifically it will include: incorporation of simulation with protein design and directed evolution into protocols for biocatalyst development and optimization; integration of structurally detailed mechanistic models into biocatalyst design and engineering; predicting and evaluating effects of mutations in silico; biocatalyst discovery and optimization; tailoring of enzymes to specific reaction environments; creating de novo catalytic activities; role of the enzyme scaffold and scaffold engineering; entropy, enthalpy and activation heat capacity in thermoadaptation; biocatalyst screening; data mining and combining catalytic and biological (e.g. genetic and structural) data; stability-activity trade-offs; development of experimental and computational assays for biocatalysis activity.

Biocatalytic pathways, cascades, cells and systems
This session will consider the compatibility of biocatalysts in natural (e.g. cellular) systems and how to integrate biocatalysts into practical processes, taking efficiency and environmental impact into account. Relevance to clean energy and achieving a net zero economy. Cleaner cofactor recycling for biocatalytic chemical synthesis. Whole cell cofactor regeneration. Sustainable synthesis. Environmental aspects. Engineering of metabolic pathways. Effects of cellular stress. Reaction optimization. Enzyme immobilization. Nanoreactors (e.g. lipid based). Biocatalytic retrosynthesis. Scale-up of processes. Opportunities to develop and optimise productive continuous flow processes in targeted catalytic reactions integrated with efficient product separation. Robustness of cascade/flow processes. In operando techniques for biocatalyst interrogation. Challenges of poorly water soluble substrates. Integrated chemo-enzymatic syntheses. Multiphase (liquid-liquid, solid-liquid) systems. Development of ‘toolboxes’ of biocatalysts primed for application and directed evolution.

Biocatalysis for industry, medicine and the circular economy
This session will explore challenges in developing industrial applications, including the need to accelerate predictions of activity from the sequence; library screening; identification and optimization of enzyme stability for practical process application and optimal lifetime; comparison of all aspects of biocatalytic and equivalent chemocatalytic processes to quantify sustainability/economic differences; the development of process design methods for efficient implementation of the biocatalytic alternatives in industrial applications, and linking these effectively to chemocatalytic processes.

Artificial, biomimetic and hybrid enzymes
This session will focus on the development of hybrid biocatalysts, incorporating features of natural proteins. Specifically, it will cover: the design, development and practical catalytic application of non-natural protein catalysts and biomimetic catalysts; comparison of artificial metalloprotein catalysts with natural metalloenzymes; control of reactivity and appropriate reaction conditions; metal recovery; optimization by chemogenetic methods to improve activity and selectivity of artificial metalloenzymes; links to protein design; scaffold and framework effects; directed evolution of protein biocatalysts containing unnatural amino acids; biomimetic organocatalysts.

Deadlines

May 19 2024
Virtual registration deadline

Useful links

Find out more about Faraday Discussions

Downloads

Speakers

Uwe Bornscheuer (Closing Speaker), University of Greifswald, Germany

Uwe T. Bornscheuer studied chemistry and received his PhD in 1993 at Hannover University followed by a postdoc at Nagoya University (Japan). In 1998, he completed his Habilitation at Stuttgart University about the use of lipases and esterases in organic synthesis. He has been Professor at the Institute of Biochemistry at Greifswald University since 1999. Beside other awards, he received in 2022 the "Enzyme Engineering Award". His current research interest focuses on the discovery and engineering of enzymes from various classes for applications in organic synthesis, lipid modification, degradation of plastics or complex marine polysaccharides.

Pimchai Chaiyen, Vidyasirimedhi Institute of Science and Technology, Thailand

Pimchai Chaiyen is professor at the School of Biomolecular Science and Engineering (BSE) and President of Vidyasirimedhi Institute of Science and Technology (VISTEC), Thailand. Her research interests are in the broad areas of enzyme catalysis, enzyme engineering, systems biocatalysis, metabolic engineering and synthetic biology. Dr. Chaiyen’s lab team focuses on developing deep understanding insights into enzymatic mechanisms, discovering new and non-native enzymatic functions and re-routing of metabolic networks. Her group studies flavin-dependent, PLP-dependent, redox and aldolase enzymes. They have contributed significantly to the understanding of many fundamental aspects of these systems including mechanisms of oxygen activation by flavoenzymes, reduced flavin transfer between proteins, oxygenation, oxidation and halogenation by flavin-dependent enzymes. They collaborate with technology and engineering specialists for prototype development, scaling up and implementation for real life usage. The team has developed engineered enzyme and cell prototypes to support green production of biochemicals, bioremediation, organic waste management, sustainable agriculture and food safety.

Pimchai Chaiyen is among the most accomplished scientists in Thailand and in her research fields globally. She has received numerous awards, including L'oreal-Unesco Woman in Science Crystal Award for the most accomplished woman scientist in Thailand (2017), Outstanding Scientist of Thailand (2015) and Outstanding Researcher Award (2012). She also serves as Associate Editor of ACS Catalysis (2021-present).

Stefan Lutz, Codexis, United States

Stefan Lutz received a B.Sc. in chemistry/chemical engineering from the Zurich University of Applied Sciences, an M.Sc. in Biotechnology from the University of Teesside and a Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of Florida. He was a postdoctoral fellow at Pennsylvania State University. He joined Codexis in 2020 as the Senior Vice President of Research to lead the company’s research team advancing the technology platform, as well as the discovery and engineering of novel enzymes. Prior to his arrival in Redwood City, he was a Professor and Chair of the 91AV Department at Emory University, having joined the university in 2002 and ascending to 91AV Department Chair in 2014. He is interested in advanced technologies for creating new, innovative, and economically-sustainable enzyme solutions to benefit society, industry, and the planet.

Joelle Pelletier, University of Montreal, Canada

Following a B.Sc. from Ottawa U. (1989), a Ph.D. from McGill U. (1995) and postdoctoral fellowships at U. de Montréal and at the U. of Zürich, Joelle Pelletier became a Professor of 91AV and Adjunct Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular and Cellular Biology at U. de Montréal in 1999. Since 2021, she holds the Canada Research Chair in Engineering of Applied Proteins. Her transdisciplinary research has produced new enzymes for applications in health, materials science and industrial synthesis and has provided remarkable insights into the fundamentals of protein biology. Evolution of antibiotic resistance, generation of ‘smart’ protein libraries and protein dynamics are prominent among her research topics; a recent focus is serological testing for COVID-19.

Professor Pelletier has established advanced methods for automated and high-throughput protein engineering, applied biocatalysis and computational models, as reported in over 100 publications and 15 patents. She served for 12 years as co-director of PROTEO, the Québec Network for Protein Function, Engineering and Applications and is Associate Editor at ACS Catalysis. In 2015 she launched the start-up company Affinité Instruments where she serves as VP-Research. She was awarded the 2021 Clara Benson award of the Canadian Society for 91AV, recognizing her distinguished contribution to chemistry. Pelletier is passionate about mentoring and promoting the young scientists who now lead the new generation of researchers.

Donald Hilvert (Introductory Lecture) ETH Zurich, Switzerland
Anthony Green University of Manchester, United Kingdom
Florian Hollfelder University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
Gerard Roelfes University of Groningen, Netherlands

Abstract Submission

Oral Abstracts - closed

A full research paper containing new unpublished results always accompanies oral presentations at Faraday Discussions.

Papers must be submitted by 8 January 2024 and be full research papers with a significant amount of new, unpublished work. The research papers are reviewed upon submission and are sent to all delegates 4 weeks before the meeting so they can be read in advance. At the meeting the presenting author is allowed five minutes to highlight the main points of their paper, and the rest of the time is for discussion. The discussion is recorded and will be published alongside the research paper in the Faraday Discussion Volume.

Poster Abstracts - closed

Submit your poster abstract by 11 March 2024. Posters are displayed throughout the meeting and a poster session is held on the first evening. The Faraday Division Poster Prize will be awarded to the best poster presented by a student at the conference.

Additional Information

Authors will be notified of the outcome of the review process within about 6 weeks of the submission deadline. The abstracts should be no longer than one A4 page in portrait layout. Please ensure you provide the details of the presenting author and indicate whether you are submitting an abstract for oral or poster presentation

Registration

In-person registration is now sold out for the Discussion, but you won’t miss out – our hybrid model lets you take part from wherever you are in the world. Our live stream will give you access to all the scientific sessions.

Registration also gives you access to on-demand recordings of the Discussion, so if you miss the live stream, you can catch up afterwards.

If you wish to be put on the waiting list for in person registration please contact the events team.

Virtual registration includes:

Live access to all scientific sessions
Access to all journal paper pdf “pre-prints” before the meeting
Access to recordings of all scientific sessions post-event

A copy of the Faraday Discussion journal volume can be purchased for less than half price during the registration process.

All prices quoted do not include VAT, which is added during registration at the prevailing rate in the UK

	Standard
RSC Member	£130 +VAT
Non-member**	£155 +VAT
RSC student member	£70 +VAT
Student non-member**	£95 +VAT

** For non-member registrants, affiliate membership of the 91AV until the end of 2024 is available, the affiliate membership application will be processed and commence once the registrant has attended the event

Student Delegates

In order to encourage undergraduate or postgraduate students to attend the Discussion, a reduced conference fee (to include a set of pre-prints but not the final Discussion Volume) is available. This fee applies to those undertaking a full time course for a recognised degree or a diploma at a university or equivalent institution.

***A copy of the Faraday Discussion journal volume may be purchased at less than half price, during the registration process or on site at the meeting.

Accompanying person - no longer available for this meeting

If you would like to bring a guest to the conference, this can be done during the registration process. There will be an additional charge which will include all lunches, refreshments and the conference dinner. The fee does not include attendance at any scientific sessions, journal paper pre-prints or the journal volume.

Accessibility

The 91AV is keen to encourage and enable as many people as possible to attend our events, to benefit from the networking opportunities and the chance to hear talks from leaders in the field. If you would like to discuss accessibility, please contact us to discuss your requirements so that we can enable your attendance. Please refer also to our Grants for carers, for more information please see the ‘bursaries’

Terms and Conditions for Events run by the 91AV

Bursaries

Grants for carers

With our Grants for carers, you can apply for up to £1,200 per year to help you attend a chemistry-related meeting, conference or workshop or a professional development event. This money would be used to cover any additional costs you incur, paying for care that you usually provide. Please visit the website for further information and eligibility criteria.

Accessibility grants

With our Accessibility grants, you can apply for up to £1,200 per year to help with the cost of specific support to attend a chemistry-related meeting, conference, workshop or professional development event. This support might be any form of equipment, service, or other personal expense associated with meeting your access needs.

Researcher Development and Travel Grants

If you are an RSC member and you are one of the following:

a PhD student actively undertaking a PhD course in the chemical sciences;
a researcher in the chemical sciences (including post docs, research technicians and research assistants), working in academia, industry or any sector, within 10 years of leaving full time education (at the time of the application deadline).

You can apply for up to £500 to support your participation in this event.

Please note it is not necessary to have confirmation of abstract acceptance before applying for a Researcher Development and Travel Grant and we encourage you to apply as early as possible.

Please see the website for up-to-date information on eligibility, how to apply and submission deadlines.

Researcher Development and Travel Grants can be applied for in addition to Grants for Carers and Assistance Grants.

Useful links

Exhibitors & supporting organisations

There are opportunities available to become a Faraday Discussion sponsor and exhibitor, as well as poster session and abstract book advertising options. A sponsorship menu document is available to download from this page with more details and prices.

Please note that exhibition spaces are limited, spaces will be allocated on a first come first served basis.

If you would like more information about sponsoring the 2024 Faraday Discussion series, please contact the Commercial Sales Department at the 91AV on advertising@rsc.org

We would like to thank Amano Enzyme for supporting the Discussion and exhibiting. Sponsorship Menu

Venue

The 91AV

The 91AV, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London, W1J 0BA, United Kingdom

Useful links

Committee

Contact information

91AV

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