Process characterization of a monoamine oxidase

• The paper brings forward the first efforts on quantifying this monoamine oxidase system.
• The paper also gives a methodological approach for process characterization of a whole cell oxidase system.
• Following the characterization, the bottleneck for industrial implementation of the target system is discussed and a process outlook presented.

Redox biocatalysis is currently gaining focus because it offers exquisite selectivity using mild oxidants, such as oxygen (which is environmentally benign). However, it is often challenging to implement oxidative reactions at scale due to the low activity and stability of the biocatalyst under industrial conditions. Consequently, it becomes critical to identify the bottlenecks for specific oxidation reactions as a first step in scale-up. Subsequently, we can identify where research the effort is required when developing a biocatalytic reaction for implementation in an industrial reaction, i.e., on biocatalyst development (e.g. improvement of expression levels), process development (e.g. improved oxygen supply, product removal strategies) or biocatalyst stabilization (e.g. through immobilization or directed evolution). This paper presents a systematic method to identify the bottleneck of a potential biocatalytic process using a monoamine oxidase to synthesize an intermediate in the manufacture of a drug for treating Hepatitis C (Telaprevir).

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