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About

The Sector of Applied Biocatalysis was established in 2007 as a group within Industrial Biotechnology, in conjunction with the start of the National Programme on the Development of Industrial Biotechnology in Lithuania 2007–2010. In October 2010, the group was transformed into the Sector of Applied Biocatalysis, headed by Inga Matijošytė (PhD in biochemistry and biocatalysis from Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands, 2008).

Research

The Sector's research is directed towards the discovery of enzymes with new functionalities and their development for applied biocatalysis. The limited number of suitable, well-characterized biocatalysts delays the application of enzymes in the synthesis of compounds for materials, pharmaceuticals, and chemicals.

The Sector of Applied Biocatalysis seeks to identify biocatalysts with novel activities by screening for enzymes, developing biocatalysts, and applying biocatalysts.

The research focuses on developing biocatalytic systems employing enzymes from two main classes: oxidoreductases and hydrolases (laccases, lipases, alcohol oxidases, xylanases, etc.). We have a variety of bacterial and yeast expression systems. We also have extensive experience in developing immobilization systems (carrier- and carrier-free). Recently, the sector is orienting research towards the discovery of novel biocatalytic routes for high-added-value products from bio-based raw materials – biopolymers (polyols, polyurethanes, etc.).

We strive to meet scientific challenges through application-oriented research. Therefore, close collaboration with industrial partners resulted in several research-oriented projects.

We have the skills and experience, as well as the tools and capacities, to develop biocatalytic solutions for specific needs. Please contact us if you need:

  • screening for enzymes (environmental samples, enzyme and strain collections, metagenomic and expression libraries, development of screening systems, etc.);
  • development of biocatalyst (gene engineering, development of analytical systems, protein purification, development of expression systems, etc.);
  • application of biocatalyst (immobilization, recycling, proof of principle, activity/selectivity, stability, reaction media, improved efficiency of bioconversions, quality analysis of products obtained by biocatalysis, etc.);
  • application of Green Chemistry principles in technologies and processes.

Main publications

  • M. Baliukynas, A. Veteikytė, V. Kairys, I. Matijošytė. The hydrolysis of indoxyl acetate: a versatile reaction to assay carbonic anhydrase activity by high-throughput screening. Enzyme Microb. Technol. 2020, 136, 109584

  • Rotter A, Bacu A, Barbier M, Bertoni F, Bones AM, Cancela ML, Carlsson J, Carvalho MF, Cegłowska M, Dalay MC, Dailianis T, Deniz I, Drakulovic D, Dubnika A, Einarsson H, Erdoğan A, Eroldoğan OT, Ezra D, Fazi S, FitzGerald RJ, Gargan LM, Gaudêncio SP, Ivošević DeNardis N, Joksimovic D, Kataržytė M, Kotta J, Mandalakis M, Matijošytė I, Mazur-Marzec H, Massa-Gallucci A, Mehiri M, Nielsen SL, Novoveská L, Overlingė D, Portman ME, Pyrc K, Rebours C, Reinsch T, Reyes F, Rinkevich B, Robbens J, Rudovica V, Sabotič J, Safarik I, Talve S, Tasdemir D, Schneider XT, Thomas OP, Toruńska-Sitarz A, Varese GC and Vasquez MI (2020) A New Network for the Advancement of Marine Biotechnology in Europe and Beyond. Front. Mar. Sci. 7:278. doi: 10.3389/fmars.2020.00278

  • V. Malūnavičius, G. Druteika, M. Sadauskas, A. Veteikytė, I. Matijošytė, E. Lastauskiene, A. Gegeckas, R. Gudiukaite. Use of GD-95 and GD-66 lipases as fusion partners, leading to the improved chimeric enzyme LipGD95-GD66. Int. J. Biol. Macromol. 2018, in press, DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2018.07.002.

  • M. Šulcienė, B. Kolvenbach, E. Ammann, I. Matijošytė. Towards an affordable enzymatic production of biopolyols – Comparing the immobilization of lipases by two optimized techniques. Int. J. Biol. Macromol. 2018, 116, 1049-1055

  • Veteikytė, R. Šiekštelė, B. Tvaska, I. Matijošytė. Sequential application of waste whey as a medium component for Kluyveromyces lactis cultivation and a co-feeder for lipase immobilization by the CLEA method. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology. 2017, 101:3617-3626.

  • Melvydas, I. Bruzauskaitė, G. Gedminienė, R. Šiekštelė. A Novel Saccharomyces cerevisiae killer strain secreting the X factor related to killer activity and inhibition of S. cerevisiae K1, K2, and K28 killer toxins. Indian Journal of Microbiology. 2016, 56(3): 335-343.

  • Gruškienė, V. Kairys, I. Matijošytė. CLEA-based immobilization of methylotropic yeast alcohol oxidase: influence on storage stability and reaction efficiency. Org. Process Res. Dev., 2015, 19 (12): 2025-2033.

  • Šiekštelė, A. Veteikytė, B. Tvaska, I. Matijošytė. Yeast Kluyveromyces lactis as host for expression of the bacterial lipase: cloning and adaptation of the new lipase gene from Serratia sp. J. Ind. Microbiol. Biotechnol., 2015, 42: 1309-1317

  • Šulcienė, A. Karalius, I. Matijošytė. Chemo-enzymatic route for the production of biopolyol from rapeseed oil. Curr. Org. Chem. 2014, 18: 3037-3043

  • Kleinaitė, V. Jaška, B. Tvaska, I. Matijošytė. A cleaner approach for biolubricant production using biodiesel as a starting material. J. Clean Prod., 2014, 75:40-44

  • Veteikytė A., Aštrauskaitė M., Gruškienė R., Tekorienė R., Matijošytė I., "Secondary alcohol oxidase activity identified in genus of Pseudomonas isolated from the oil polluted soil“. Agricult. Biotechnol., 2013, 2 (2): 89-95

  • A. Tromp, I. Matijošytė, R.A. Sheldon, I.W.C.E. Arends, M.T. Kreutzer, J.A. Moulijn, S. de Vries, “Mechanism of laccase/TEMPO oxidation of benzyl alcohol”. ChemCatChem., 2010 (2): 827-833

Visits funded by the Research Council of Lithuania 

  • Conference “Multistep Enzyme Catalyzed Processes Congress (MECP2014).“ N° SF3-25 (N° VIZ-KON-1011). Poster: I. Matijošytė, A. Karalius, M. Šulcienė “Biopolyol production by a two-step chemo-enzymatic synthesis”. 6-11 April 2014, Madrid, Spain.
  • 6th International Congress on Biocatalysis (Biocat 2012). N° VIZIT-4-KON-381. Poster: I. Matijošytė, E. Kleinaitė, R. Šiekštelė, B. Pudžiuvytė „Novel lipase from Serratia sp. for biolubricant production“. 2-6 September 2012, Hamburg, Germany.
  • Symposium on Biocatalysis and Biotransformations (Biotrans2011), N° KEL-007/2011. Poster: I. Matijošytė, M. Aštrauskaitė, A. Veteikytė, R. Gruškienė, E. Kleinaitė “A novel biocatalyst for oxidation of secondary alcohols“. 2-6 October 2010, Sicily, Italy.  

Projects and cooperation

Projects

  • COST Action CM1303: Systems Biocatalysis, duration 15 September 2014–19 November 2017.
  • Sciex Junior Researchers‘ Felloship programos projektas IMMOZYME (k 13.101), University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern, Basel, Switzerland, 01 October 2013–01 April 2014.
  • Project „Development of innovative biotechnology for oil-based lubricant production“ (BIOLUBRICANT) under the Industrial Biotechnology development programme in Lithuania for 2011–2013. Project partners JSC Biocentras (www.biocentras.lt), duration 2011–2013.
  • Project „The development of innovative biocatalytic stain remover“ (FASTREMOVE), under the Industrial Biotechnology development programme
    in Lithuania for 2011–2013. Project partners: SC NAUJOJI RINGUVA (www.ringuva.lt), duration 2012–2013.  
  • Project „Design and evaluation of ageing-resistant biodegradable esters with controllable flammability“ (BIOSKALESTER) under Industrial Biotechnology development programme in Lithuania for 2007–2009, duration 2008–2010.
  •  Project „The search for new biofuel components and investigation of second generation biofuel production technologies“ (BIOTEKA) under the Industrial Biotechnology development programme in Lithuania for 2007–2009, duration 2007–2009.
  • Project „Investigation of immobilization of biocatalysts and their application in biotechnological processes“ (BIOKATALIMA) under Industrial Biotechnology development programme in Lithuania for 2007–2009, duration 2007–2009.

Innovation voucher (funded by MITA) :

  • Innovation voucher N° K-824-01-049 (2017/6 mėn), customer AC Pienas LT.
  • Innovation voucher N° 31V- (2014/6 month), customer JSC Akses.
  • Innovation voucher N° 43V-255 (2014/6 month), customer JSC Noventus.
  • Innovation voucher N° 43V-10 (2013/6 month), customer JSC Lutora.
  • Innovation voucher N° 31V-224 (2012/6 month), customer JSC Chemopolis.
  • Innovation voucher N° 31V-105 (2011/6 month), customer JSC Nuostolių valdymas.
  • Innovation voucher N° 31V-39 (2011/6 month), customer JSC PET group.
  • Innovation voucher N° 31V-38 (2011/6 month), customer JSC Biocentras.
  • InnThe ovation voucher N° 31V- 72 (2010/3 month), customer JSC Naujoji Ringuva.

Contractual R&D projects with:

  • JSC Bioenergy LT
  • SC Amilina
  • JSC Biorro
  • AC Pienas LT
  • Lithuanian University of Health Sciences

Cooperation Agreements:

  • JC Naujoji Ringuva „Enzymes and their application in detergents“ N° B1-560000-153

Scientific collaborations with:

  • University of Torino (IT)
  • Delft University of Technology (NL)
  • Leiden University (NL)
  • University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland (CHE)
  • Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry (LV)
  • JSC Probiosanus
  • JSC Vita Baltic

Sector members

Head Dr. Inga Matijošytė
Senior Researcher

+370 5 223 4371

Rimantas Šiekštelė
Research assistant

Milda Šulcienė
Research assistant

Aušra Veteikytė
Biologist

Students of the year 2017–2018:

Žymantas Venckus (VU Microbiology and biotechnology)

Mantas Baliukynas (VU VU Microbiology and biotechnology)

Gabija Aleknavičiūtė (VU Molecular biology)

Jokūbas Krutkevičius (VU VU Microbiology and biotechnology)

Justinas Babinskas (VU Chemistry)

Marius Petkus (VU VU Microbiology and biotechnology)

Since the establishment of the Sector, more than 20 theses by undergraduate and postgraduate students have been prepared.

Institute of Biotechnology