Development of Artificial Enzymes for Biomass Varolization based on Metalated Peptide

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K05053
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 33020:Synthetic organic chemistry-related
• Research Institution: Teikyo University of Science & Technology (2022-2023); Kyoto University (2021)
• Principal Investigator: Hikaru Takaya 帝京科学大学, 生命環境学部, 教授 (50304035)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 未活用バイオマス / リグニン / セルロース / 人工酵素 / マイクロ波化学 / メカノケミカル反応 / X線吸収分光 / ケミカルリサイクル

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Aiming to recycle unused plant biomass, we developed metalated peptide artificial enzymes with lignin/cellulose recognizing ability and conducted research to develop a method to produce useful chemical products by direct and selective molecular conversion of lignin/cellulose in biomass. As a result, 1) we succeeded in creating a peptide artificial enzyme that combines a substrate recognition peptide with a metalated amino acid/peptide having catalytic function, which specifically binds to lignin in a dense molecular mixture of lignin, polysaccharides, proteins, and lipids. Furthermore, 2) we have successfully decomposed and converted wood flour, woody lignin, cellulose, and fresh flower waste using these catalysts under microwave and mechanochemical conditions, and have succeeded in developing a molecular conversion method that yields useful aromatic molecules and functional cellulose.

Free Research Field

サステイナブル有機化学，バイオマス科学，放射光計測，ペプチド科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

植物バイオマスの循環資源化は，将来の持続可能な社会形成に必須の鍵技術であるが，これらはリグニン，多糖類，蛋白質，脂質等が混在する生体分子夾雑系であり，これら成分から人類の産業活動に必要な分子を選択的に変換・分離/抽出する高効率かつ低エネルギーな革新的手法が求められている。本研究の社会的意義は，夾雑系から上記成分を認識し，選択的に変換できるペプチド人工酵素の開発に成功したこと。マイクロ波反応・メカノケミカル反応を利用して，高効率・低エネルギーな植物バイオマスの変換と高付加価値化に成功したことである。