The Power of Biocatalysis in CO₂ and C1 Compound Conversion

The POWER CO₂ Days! | September 7–9, 2026 | Lyon, France

Day 3: Visions of the Field

We are happy to welcome Carine Vergne-Vaxelaire as a Plenary Speaker to discuss "Enzymes in Action: Finding the Right Enzyme for a Given Reaction."

Biocatalysis has emerged as a key pillar of sustainable chemistry, offering highly selective transformations under mild conditions to support greener, resource-efficient manufacturing. This success relies on the remarkable catalytic efficiency and substrate promiscuity of enzymes. However, to push the boundaries of biocatalysis further, we must continuously identify new enzymes capable of catalyzing novel reactions and accepting new substrates.

In her presentation, Carine will review the primary strategies for discovering and optimizing these crucial biocatalysts—spanning genome mining, biodiversity exploration, directed evolution, and de novo enzyme design. She will share recent examples from her laboratory that perfectly illustrate the power of genome mining in uncovering novel enzymatic activities.

The second half of the plenary will focus on the expanding role of biocatalysis in carbon valorization, specifically emphasizing CO₂-derived C1 compounds. Finally, Carine will present her team's latest work on the reductive amination of C1 compounds using native amine dehydrogenases. This research brilliantly highlights how exploring biodiversity can unlock new biocatalysts for carbon-efficient synthesis and shape the development of future CO₂-based bioprocesses.

Don't miss this inspiring overview of how nature's catalysts are driving the transition to a circular carbon economy!

#Biocatalysis #EnzymeDiscovery #CO2Valorization #GreenChemistry #DirectedEvolution #SyntheticBiology #Sustainability

📚 References:

[1] Buller, R. et al. From nature to industry: Harnessing enzymes for biocatalysis, Science, 2023. [2] N’Guyen, D.T. et al. Genome Mining for New Enzyme Chemistry, ACS Catal. 2024. [3] Elisée, E. et al. Refined Picture of the Native Amine Dehydrogenase Family Revealed by Extensive Biodiversity Screening, Nat Commun 2024. [4] Intasian, P. et al. Enzymes, In Vivo Biocatalysis, and Metabolic Engineering for Enabling a Circular Economy and Sustainability, Chem. Rev. 2021.