The development of enzymes for the preparation of chemicals

The use of enzymes as catalysts for the preparation of novel organic molecu les is becoming more widespread every year. The science of biotransformatio n has matured, and biocatalysts now stand alongside other forms of catalyst s to be considered as viable options for the promotion of a particular reac tion. Of great importance for the breakthrough of biocatalysts was the avai lability of enzymes and the increasing demand for enantiomerically pure com pounds. Especially, hydrolytic enzymes, lyases, and oxidoreductases are of technical importance today. The potential of enzymes for the synthesis of c hemical compounds is by no means exhausted, and the enormous diversity of m icroorganisms is an almost unlimited pool for new enzymes. In this paper, d ifferent strategies are discussed to find and develop new enzymes for the a pplication in organic synthesis.