Halogenases : a palette of emerging opportunities for synthetic biology–synthetic chemistry and C–H functionalisation
Abstract
The enzymatic generation of carbon–halogen bonds is a powerful strategy used by both nature and synthetic chemists to tune the bioactivity, bioavailability and reactivity of compounds, opening up the opportunity for selective C–H functionalisation. Genes encoding halogenase enzymes have recently been shown to transcend all kingdoms of life. These enzymes install halogen atoms into aromatic and less activated aliphatic substrates, achieving selectivities that are often challenging to accomplish using synthetic methodologies. Significant advances in both halogenase discovery and engineering have provided a toolbox of enzymes, enabling the ready use of these catalysts in biotransformations, synthetic biology, and in combination with chemical catalysis to enable late stage C–H functionalisation. With a focus on substrate scope, this review outlines the mechanisms employed by the major classes of halogenases, while in parallel, it highlights key advances in the utilisation of the combination of enzymatic halogenation and chemical catalysis for C–H activation and diversification.
Citation
Crowe , C , Molyneux , S , Sharma , S V , Zhang , Y , Gkotsi , D S , Connaris , H & Goss , R J M 2021 , ' Halogenases : a palette of emerging opportunities for synthetic biology–synthetic chemistry and C–H functionalisation ' , Chemical Society Reviews , vol. 17 , no. 50 , pp. 9443-9481 . https://doi.org/10.1039/D0CS01551B
Publication
Chemical Society Reviews
Status
Peer reviewed
ISSN
0306-0012Type
Journal item
Description
Authors thank ERC GenoChemetics (FP7/2007-2013/ERC consolidator grant GCGXC grant agreement no. 614779 RJMG) for funding, BBSRC Follow on Funding, Synthetic Biology Highlight award. RSE Enterprise Fellowship (SVS), China Scholarship Council and EPSRC CRITICAT EP/L016419/1 for studentship support (Y. Z. & S. M. respectively).Collections
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