EU grant for research into green enzymes

A group of biotechnologists from the University of Groningen, Faculty of Science and Engineering (formerly known as the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences), have been awarded a large grant for research into green enzymes. The Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute (GBB) will receive EUR 1.5 million from a EUR 7.5 million research project.

This European Union grant is awarded for research into methods of producing enzymes outside their natural habitat of the human or animal body. Such ‘unnatural’ enzymes are considered promising in the field of biotechnology as they work in a cleaner way than chemical materials, producing no poisons and little or no other waste products. The use of such enzymes in agriculture and the production of food and medicines can therefore make these industries more environmentally friendly.

The GBB and eleven partners, including five companies, are involved in this project to use so-called oxygenating enzymes for green chemistry.

Source: UK (Weekly University of Groningen) 37, 19 June 2008