Enzyme advances promise to boost the bioeconomy

Enzyme advances promise to boost the bioeconomy

Enzyme advances promise to boost the bioeconomy

Enzyme technology symposium brings together researchers from North America and Japan working on cutting-edge applications.

By Stephanie Xenos

Around 85 researchers and industry partners involved in developing new enzyme-based applications recently came together at the University of Minnesota for the 1st North America-Japan Enzyme Technology Symposium. The symposium, organized by the BioTechnology Institute and Amano Enzyme Japan, focused on enzyme technology relating to biocatalysis and food, two key areas of the growing bioeconomy. 

“This symposium provided opportunities for new collaborations and learning about new enzyme applications that are particularly relevant for advancing the bioeconomy in Minnesota given the abundant agricultural and forest resources in our state,” says Claudia Schmidt-Dannert, director of the BioTechnology Institute.

Speakers covered a range of topics including modifications in the rate at which plants absorb light, in wood xylan to make polymers for food packaging, and in polyunsaturated fatty acids to make therapeutics.

“Enzyme applications make our lives better and our environment cleaner but most people are unaware of their importance since they work for us out of sight,” says Romas Kazlauskas, a professor in Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics, and one of the organizers of the symposium. “Enzymes make our laundry detergents more effective, are used to make the COVID-19 drug Paxlovid, and improve the texture and taste of our foods. This symposium provided examples of current and future applications of enzymes.”

The symposium provided students and postdocs to engage with experts from industry and academia, and learn about the breadth of enzyme applications.

A selection of symposium talks are available to view.

Boswell Wing

Boswell Wing

Boswell Wing

University of Colorado Denver

Seminar title TBD

THURSDAY  I  APRIL 20 I  3:30-4:30 PM CDT  I  GORTNER 239 + ZOOM

Brian Murphy

Brian Murphy

Brian Murphy

University of Illinois Chicago

Seminar title TBD

THURSDAY  I  APRIL 27 I  3:30-4:30 PM CDT  I  AMUNDSON 151D + ZOOM

Terry Papoutsakis

Terry Papoutsakis

Terry Papoutsakis

University of Delaware

Seminar title TBD

THURSDAY  I  APRIL 13 I  3:30-4:30 PM CDT  I  GORTNER 239 + ZOOM

 

Faculty Research Insight Talks #6

Faculty Research Insight Talks #6

Claudia Schmidt-Dannert

Director of the Biotechnology Institute; Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophyscs
University of Minnesota

Building materials using biology

In biological systems, proteins, nucleic acids and lipids are precisely organized to form higher ordered structures across multiple length scales. Likewise, cells organize themselves into complex structures such as in biofilms. 

Harnessing the principles and mechanisms underlying the assembly and organization of natural living systems and materials therefore offers tremendous opportunities for the design and scalable fabrication of functional biomaterials with emergent properties, including remodeling, self-repair and healing. 

Our laboratory is exploring the design of self-assembling systems for a variety of applications. In one area of research, we are designing protein-based materials as platforms for biocatalysis and as funcitonal materials. Another area of research involves building materials with cells, including the design of living materials and most recently, functional biofilms. 

In this presentation I will present examples of our current and future work in this area.

Brett Barney

Bioproduct & Biosystems Engineering
University of Minnesota

Enhancing biological nitrogen fixation for sustainable agriculture

The Haber-Bosch process is a chemical engineering marvel that enabled the green revolution and supports about 50 percent of global food production through production of ammonia fertilizers.

Biological nitrogen fixation has been around for quite a bit longer, and has the potential to be harnessed to do more.

Our laboratory has been altering nitrogen-fixing microbes to generate improved biofertilizers. We recently shifted our efforts to replicate our work in endophyte microbes and better understand the mechanisms enabling certain plant growth promoting microbes to grow within the confines of plants. 

I will present a brief overview of the work going on related to this task.

THURSDAY  I MARCH 30 I  3:30-4:30 PM CDT  I  GORTNER 239 + ZOOM

Reception to follow