Dear Colleagues,

The world is teeming with microorganisms occupying the most diverse ecological niches. Each of these species developed a unique set of enzymes to process food and respiratory resources or build organic molecules. The more unusual the living conditions were the more bizarre the catalytic solutions evolved. This still untapped resource has recently started to find its way into organic labs and industrial synthesis. Thanks to the effectiveness of recombinant enzyme production and a rapid increase of knowledge of genomic sequences we are gaining access to novel enzymes even from organisms that are still unculturable.

Yet another reason for the increasing popularity of enzymes is the mastering of robust hydrolases that are resistant to organic solvents and catalyze a range of reactions not encountered in living organisms e.g, promiscuous lipases catalyzing not only esterification and transamination, but also organic reactions such as Bayer–Villiger oxidation; Knoevenagel condensation; Pudovik–Abramov, Ugi and Passerini, or Mannich reactions. We observe the gradual transfer of enzymes from biotechnological labs to classical organic laboratories. Enzymes are no longer the domain of biologists—they are becoming ingredients in organic reactions.

Finally, we experience a “revolution based on (directed) evolution” gaining access to the new-to-nature enzymatic activities, such as C–C or C–Si bond formation by the modified P450 enzyme (know called P411).

The main aim of the Special Issue “Applications of Microbial Enzymes in Organic Synthesis” is to be an open forum where one can demonstrate their recent discoveries in the field of biocatalysis and organic chemistry. Thanks to the OA form of the Catalysts journal, we expect the published articles to gain high. Contributions to this Issue, both in the form of original research or review articles, may cover all aspects of biocatalytic reactions conducted with enzymes, whole-cell biotransformations, the development of promiscuous enzymatic reactions, or the discovery of new enzymatic activities. We also invite contributions not limited to bacterial enzymes but covering the widest understanding of microbial origins.

Prof. Dr. Maciej Szaleniec
Guest Editor

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• bacterial enzymes
• algal enzymes
• fungal enzymes
• archaeal enzymes
• organic synthesis
• directed evolution
• rational design
• promiscuous enzyme