Catch & Release

This illustration and the graphical abstract are based on my very last scientific article as a researcher. The article discusses a scientific study on a type of hybrid catalyst called artificial metalloenzymes (ArMs). These ArMs combine synthetic metal complexes with protein structures and have potential applications in various chemical reactions. Our team focused on improving the practicality and efficiency of ArMs by immobilizing them on support materials, allowing for better stability and the ability to recover and reuse them.

The specific ArMs studied in this research were equipped with a reversible mechanism, allowing the replacement of catalytic components that lost activity over time. We used protein scaffolds from thermophilic bacteria and a catalyst linked to siderophores, which are molecules that bind to metal ions. The immobilization of these ArMs on specific resins was explored to enhance their stability, enabling multiple recycling cycles.

The results showed that the immobilized ArMs retained their catalytic activity, with a gradual reduction over repeated cycles. Once the activity dropped significantly, a unique "catch-and-release" strategy was employed. The inactivated catalytic components were released, and the immobilized protein scaffold was recharged with fresh, active components, restoring the initial catalytic activity. This process allowed for the reuse of the ArMs in additional reaction cycles.

The study also highlighted the advantages of immobilization in terms of stability, recyclability, and simplified assembly of ArMs directly from crude cell extracts, bypassing time-consuming and costly purification steps. Overall, the research aimed to improve the practicality and environmental impact of these artificial metalloenzymes for potential commercial applications.

The article can be accessed at : https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acscatal.3c05294