CC-TOP

As an Innovative Training Network (ITN) , our approach to bringing about innovation is via education. The 15 Early Stage Researchers that join our project will gain multidisciplinary and cutting-edge expertise from our hosting institutions and associated partners, which is required to manipulate biological catalysts for meeting tomorrow’s demanding challenges in sustainable production processes.

CC-TOP is focused on exploiting the potential benefits of C-C bond forming enzymes (“carboligases”) in the industrial synthesis of high value chiral compounds. We combine a multidisciplinary range of techniques and training actions to cover everything from enzyme discovery and optimisation to the design of industrial processes that allow using carboligases in real-life applications.

Building complex compounds by connecting carbon-carbon bonds is at the core of industrial organic synthesis. However, current methods often have important drawbacks, such as the use of hazardous substances or the generation of toxic waste. Our innovation is oriented to apply improved carboligases as a complementary, eco-friendly catalyst class, so that they can unleash their potential to yield the same outputs as conventional methods, but in a more efficient, selective and sustainable way.