- Extremophilic and modified aminotransferases as a versatile tool for the synthesis of optically pure building blocks for pharmaceutical industry(Lodz University of Technology Press, 2017) Szmejda, Klaudia; Florczak, Tomasz; Jodłowska, Iga; Turkiewicz, MariannaConsiderable progress has been made in the past few years with industrial use of essential key intermediates for chemical and pharmaceutical industry. The increasing demand for obtaining chiral drugs in enantiomerically pure form makes it necessary to search for novel biocatalysts useful in the synthesis of amino acids, chiral amines, amino sugars and alcohols. According to the reaction mechanism, aminotransferases (ATs) have useful applications because of their capability of transfer of an amino group from a donor substrate to an acceptor, thus resulting in the synthesis of a wide variety of building blocks. This article reviews current biocatalytic approaches using microbial ATs in the synthesis of optically active products. Focus is also put on the engineering of ATs and their limitations in the industrial applications. Moreover this review covers biocatalytic approaches using ATs isolated from extreme environments.
- Physicochemical and bilogical characterization of soils from the vicinity of the Arctowski Polish Antarctic Station(Wydawnictwo Politechniki Łódzkiej, 2012) Białkowska, Aneta; Grzelczyk, Anna; Długołęcka, Anna; Cieśliński, Hubert; Kalinowska, Halina; Kur, Józef; Turkiewicz, MariannaSoil samples collected in 2006 from 4 different sites (Puchalski Hill and a moraine below this hill, an elephant seal colony and a penguin rookery) in the vicinity of Arctowski Polish Antarctic Station at King George Island were characterized in terms of physicochemical properties (pH, humidity, concentration of selected inorganic and organic substances), microbial colonization and the overall activity of selected enzymes (differentglycosidases and esterases). Activity of the latter enzymes was assayed by p-nitrophenyl and 4-methylumbelliferone derivatives of fatty acids (by spectrophotometric and fluorimetric method, respectively). The highest lipolytic activity was found in soils from the elephant seal colony and penguin rookery.