During her PhD studies, Yu Ma focused on designing and optimizing fusion enzymes for efficient oxyfunctionalization in non-aqueous media. This research aimed to address the inherent challenges of Baeyer-Villiger Monooxygenases (BVMOs), whose applications are limited by enzyme instability, product/substrate inhibition, and cofactor dependency. By engineering novel fusion enzymes combining BVMOs and alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), she explored how linker design and enzyme orientation affect catalytic efficiency in linear cascade reactions. Her work not only enhanced enzyme stability and activity but also expanded the use of these fusion enzymes in biphasic systems and deep eutectic solvents (DESs). Her findings demonstrate the potential of fusion enzymes to improve oxyfunctionalization reactions, providing valuable insights for enzyme-driven industrial processes in non-aqueous media.

The PhD study was completed at Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering (BCE), Faculty of Technical Sciences.

This summary was prepared by the PhD student.

Time: Friday, 8 November 2024 at 14.00
Place: Building 3130, room 303, Aarhus University, Gustav Wieds Vej 10C, 8000 Aarhus C.
Title of PhD thesis: Design of Enzymatic Oxyfunctionalizations Catalyzed by Fusion Enzymes in Non-aqueous Media
Contact information: Yu Ma, e-mail: yu.ma@bce.au.dk, tel.: +49 15510478732

Members of the assessment committee:
Professor Dirk Tischler, Department for Biology and Biotechnology, Ruhr University Bochum, Germany

Associate Professor Caroline Paul, Department of Biotechnology, TU Delft, The Netherlands

Associate Professor Bekir Engin Eser (chair), Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Aarhus University, Denmark

Main supervisor:
Professor Selin Kara, Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Aarhus University, Denmark

Language: The PhD dissertation will be defended in English

The defence is public.
The PhD thesis is available for reading at the Graduate School of Technical Sciences/GSTS, Ny Munkegade 120, building 1521, 8000 Aarhus C.