Application-Oriented Marine Isomerases in Biocatalysis

Abstract: The class EC 5.xx, a group of enzymes that interconvert optical, geometric, or positionalisomers are interesting biocatalysts for the synthesis of pharmaceuticals and pharmaceuticalintermediates. This class, named "isomerases," can transform cheap biomolecules into expensiveisomers with suitable stereochemistry useful in synthetic medicinal chemistry, and interesting casesof production of L-ribose, D-psicose, lactulose, and D-phenylalanine are known. However, in twopublished reports about potential biocatalysts of marine origin, isomerases are hardly mentioned.Therefore, it is of interest to deepen the knowledge of these biocatalysts from the marineenvironment with this specialized in-depth analysis conducted using a literature search withouttime limit constraints. In this review, the focus is dedicated mainly to example applications inbiocatalysis that are not numerous confirming the general view previously reported. However, fromthis overall literature analysis, curiosity-driven scientific interest for marine isomerases seems tohave been long-standing. However, the major fields in which application examples are framed areplaced at the cutting edge of current biotechnological development. Since these enzymes can offerproperties of industrial interest, this will act as a promoter for future studies of marine-originatingisomerases in applied biocatalysis