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DISCOVER OUR
Current researchThe research in the Quaglia lab revolves around enzymes and sustainability. We like to think that there is potentially an enzyme as a solution for every problem. We tackle problems in an applied way, so our projects have a tangible goal. While we develop new enzyme-based technology, we are also interested in understanding the molecular basis of enzymatic function and mechanism, delving more into theoretical grounds. To do so, we bring together lab-based research (chemistry, chemical biology, molecular biology, and biotech) and computational tools, and we rely on collaboration. Our specialties are biocatalysis, engineering of enzymes, method development, and the implementation of automation.
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Current projects:
DISCOVERY, ENGINEERING AND APPLICATION OF PLASTIC DEGRADING ENZYMES
Plastic is a range of materials with remarkable properties: they are cheap, easy to manufacture, versatile, light, and they show superior mechanical and thermal properties. For this reason, its use has become so common in a very short time.
While large production of plastic dates back only to the 1950s, in 2015 it reached 350-400 million metric tons per year, and this is set to quadruple by 2050. Our world Is becoming clogged with it with devastating consequences, above all for the marine environment. Classical recycling and incineration are possible but far from the solution.
Through the use of enzyme engineering and laboratory automation, we are developing, novel and more efficient plastic degrading biocatalysts, in order to contribute to make the world a little bit cleaner for everyone.
While large production of plastic dates back only to the 1950s, in 2015 it reached 350-400 million metric tons per year, and this is set to quadruple by 2050. Our world Is becoming clogged with it with devastating consequences, above all for the marine environment. Classical recycling and incineration are possible but far from the solution.
Through the use of enzyme engineering and laboratory automation, we are developing, novel and more efficient plastic degrading biocatalysts, in order to contribute to make the world a little bit cleaner for everyone.
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PETases
Description coming soon...
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Polyurethanases
Description coming soon...
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CALA FOR THE SELECTIVE ENRICHMENT OF FATTY ACIDS
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Candida (Pseudozyma) antarctica lipase A (CalA) has demonstrated the potential of this enzyme in the selective hydrolysis of fatty acid esters of different chain lengths. CalA has been shown to bind substrates preferentially through an acyl-chain binding tunnel accessed via the hydrolytic active site. Thanks also to our work, it has been demonstrated that selectivity for substrates of longer or shorter chain length can be tuned, for instance by modulating steric hindrance within the tunnel. While the tunnel region is certainly of paramount importance for substrate recognition, in our work we show that residues in distal regions of the enzyme can also modulate substrate selectivity. To this end, we investigated variants that carry one or more substitutions within the substrate tunnel as well as in distal regions. Combining experimental determination of the substrate selectivity using natural and synthetic substrates with computational characterization of protein dynamics and of tunnels, we deconvoluted the effect of key substitutions and demonstrated that epistatic interactions contribute to procuring selectivity toward either long-chain or short/medium-chain fatty acid esters. Various mechanisms contribute to the diverse selectivity profiles, ranging from reshaping tunnel morphology and tunnel stabilization to obstructing the main substrate-binding tunnel, highlighting the dynamic nature of the substrate-binding region. In our research we continue the versatility of this robust biocatalyst toward diverse applications, including in-tandem with the enzyme CAR.
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CAR AND ITS POTENTIAL FOR THE SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION OF ALDEHYDES
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Aldehydes are essential chemical building blocks in the synthesis of commercially essential compounds, for the chemical, pharmaceutical, fragrance and flavor industries. The aldehydes market is estimated at 6 Billion US$ with a CAGR of 3.5% (2017-2025).
Classical aldehyde synthesis uses harsh conditions and are not in line with a green synthesis attitude. We propose to develop and use engineered CAR enzymes for the green production of aldehydes of different chain lengths starting from natural and renewable sources of cheap fats. |
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Publications: for a complete list, visit the google scholar page of Daniela.
