This version of the course guide is provisional until the period for editing the new course guides ends.

Logo UAB

Applied Biocatalysis and Biotransformations

Code: 42901 ECTS Credits: 9
2025/2026
Degree Type Year
Biotecnología Avanzada OP 1

Contact

Name:
Marina Guillen Montalban
Email:
marina.guillen@uab.cat

Teachers

Oscar Enrique Romero Ormazabal
Marina Guillen Montalban

Teaching groups languages

You can view this information at the end of this document.


Prerequisites

Basic knowledge of:
  • Protein structure
  • Biochemistry
  • Catalysis
  • Kinetic enzyme
  • Microbial growth
  • Cell biology
  • Chemical Engineering principles

Objectives and Contextualisation

The objective is to present biocatalysis and its fields of application as an alternative to classical catalysis. The knowledge of biocatalysts will be deepened as the central axis of a transformation and of the aspects of engineering of the main elements that make up biotransformation, such as the biocatalyst, the reaction medium, the bioreactor and its operation. Moreover, the classification and study of different biotransformations according to the biocatalyst used will be analyzed in different case studies. The final objective is to be able to define the main elements of a biotransformation and to design a biocatalytic process.


Learning Outcomes

  1. CA06 (Competence) Implement a biocatalytic process for industrial application, integrating the current state of biocatalysis, its fields of application and the different classes of relevant biotransformations.
  2. CA06 (Competence) Implement a biocatalytic process for industrial application, integrating the current state of biocatalysis, its fields of application and the different classes of relevant biotransformations.
  3. CA07 (Competence) Explain the different types of biotransformation depending on the biocatalyst used, evaluating their main characteristics.
  4. KA04 (Knowledge) Gather relevant information to determine the most appropriate operational configuration for a biotechnological process.
  5. KA04 (Knowledge) Gather relevant information to determine the most appropriate operational configuration for a biotechnological process.
  6. KA05 (Knowledge) Differentiate the fundamental concepts of chemical engineering in the different forms of reactor design and operation, including catalytic reactors, with special emphasis on reactors with immobilized biological catalysts.
  7. KA06 (Knowledge) Distinguish and choose between different reaction media used in biotransformations.
  8. KA07 (Knowledge) Characterise biocatalyst immobilisation and distinguish between its different methods.
  9. KA08 (Knowledge) Identify biomolecules and multi-enzyme processes of relevance to biotechnological applications, considering their function in biological systems and their possible role in human pathologies.
  10. KA08 (Knowledge) Identify biomolecules and multi-enzyme processes of relevance to biotechnological applications, considering their function in biological systems and their possible role in human pathologies.
  11. SA06 (Skill) Calculate the main elements involved in biotransformation such as the biocatalyst, reaction medium and bioreactor, as well as their operation.
  12. SA06 (Skill) Calculate the main elements involved in biotransformation such as the biocatalyst, reaction medium and bioreactor, as well as their operation.

Content

Assignment program:

  • Topic 1 Introduction to biocatalysis
  • Topic 2 Biocatalysts
  • Topic 3 Biocatalyst engineering
  • Topic 4 Reaction medium engineering
  • Topic 5 Bioreactor operation
  • Topic 6 Biotransformations: case studies

Activities and Methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Type: Directed      
Seminars and case studies 6 0.24 CA06, CA07, KA04, KA05, KA06, KA07, KA08, SA06, CA06
theoretical classes 49 1.96 KA04, KA05, KA06, KA07, KA08, KA04
Type: Autonomous      
Accomplishment of work on a case study 20 0.8 CA06, KA04, KA05, KA06, KA07, KA08, SA06, CA06
Individual study 127 5.08 CA06, CA07, KA04, KA05, KA06, KA07, KA08, SA06, CA06
Search for documentation and bibliography 20 0.8 CA06, CA07, KA04, KA05, KA06, KA07, KA08, CA06

Directed activities:

  • Theoretical lectures: Master classes on the concepts of the subject
  • Seminars: Presentation to students of different cases of study of biotransformations and applied biocatalysis extracted from the bibliography
  • Public presentation of the work: Students will orally and publicly present a summary of the most relevant results of the work and deliver the presentation to the professor in digital format through the virtual campus

Autonomous activities:

  • Individual study: Individual study, preparation of diagrams and summaries.
  • Documentation and bibliography search: Consultation of the bibliographic and documentary sources essential for the course.
  • Realization of a work: work in groups of 2-4 students in which each group will elaborate a written work on a case study previously selected by the teacher. The work will be delivered to the teacher in paper format (printed) and in digital format through the virtual campus, in order to discuss in seminars and written presentation.

 

Communication with Students
Communication with students will take place through the Moodle Classroom on the Virtual Campus.

Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.

Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.


Assessment

Continous Assessment Activities

Title Weighting Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Oral and public presentation of the work 10% 1 0.04 CA06, CA07, KA04, KA05, KA06, KA07, KA08, SA06
Partial exam (items 1, 2 and 3) 35% 1 0.04 KA05, KA07, KA08
Partial exam (topics 4, 5 and 6) 35% 1 0.04 CA07, KA05, KA06, KA07, KA08, SA06
Written work 20% 0 0 CA06, CA07, KA04, KA05, KA06, KA07, KA08, SA06

Scheduled evaluation process and activities

Throughout the course different evaluation activities will be carried out that will lead to the final grade of the subject obtained by continuous evaluation. Specifically, the evaluable activities will be:

  • Written work on a case study that is 20% of the final grade.
  • Oral and public presentation of the written work that is 10% of the final grade
  • Attendance at all oral presentations is compulsory for all students
  • Partial exam of topics 1, 2 and 3, which represents 35% of the final grade
  • Partial examination of topics 3, 4 and 5, which represents 35% of the final grade

The written assignment and the oral presentation of the assignment are non-recoverable.

The course is considered passed if the average of the 4 activities is 5 or higher. To calculate the average, each activity must have a minimum grade of 4.

If the average of the 4 activities is less than 5, or any part is below 4, the failed activities (those with less than 5) must be retaken, except the written assignment and the oral presentation, which are non-recoverable.

Any of the following circumstances will result in a “Not Assessable” grade for the course:

  • Not submitting the written assignment

  • Not doing the oral presentation

  • Not attending any of the exams

Scheduling of assessment activities

At the beginning of the course, groups will be formed for the written assignment. The deadlines for submission and oral presentations will be communicated through the virtual campus.

Recovery process

The student may attend the recovery session only if they have completed a set of activities representing at least two-thirds of the total course grade.

Partial exams are eliminatory; therefore, a student who has passed a partial exam cannot retake it. They must retake any partial exam in which they obtained a grade below 4, regardless of their overall average, as outlined in the “Scheduled Evaluation Process and Activities” section.

The final grade will be calculated in the same way as for continuous assessment.

Grade review procedure

For each assessment activity, a time, date, and location will be set for the student to review their work with the teacher. During this review, students may raise complaints about their grade, which will be considered by the course instructors. If the student does not attend the review session, the activity will not be reviewed afterward.

Grading

The decision to award an “Honors” distinction is up to the course instructors. UAB regulations state that an Honors grade can only be awarded to students with a final grade equal to or higher than 9.00. A maximum of 5% of the enrolled students may receive this distinction.

Student misconduct, cheating, and plagiarism

Without prejudice to other disciplinary measures deemed appropriate, any irregularities committed by a student that could lead to a variation in the grade of an assessment activity will result in a grade of zero. Therefore, cheating, plagiarism, deception, or allowing others to copy in any evaluation activity will result in a zero and the activity will be non-recoverable.

If the course requires passing one of these affected activities, the entire course will be failed directly, without the opportunity for recovery during the same academic year. In this situation, the final grade recorded will be 2.

Evaluation of repeating students

There is no different evaluation system for repeating students.

Single assessment

This course does not have a single-assessment option.

The use of AI is not allowed.


Bibliography

Books:

Immobilized Biocatalysts

Peter Grunwald (Ed.)

Pages: 510

Published: November 2018

ISBN 978-3-03897-318-8 (Pbk); ISBN 978-3-03897-319-5 (PDF) 

https://doi.org/10.3390/books978-3-03897-319-5

© 2018 by the authors; CC BY-NC-ND licenes

https://www.mdpi.com/books/pdfview/book/861

 

Biocatalysis for Green Chemistry and Chemical Process Development

Editor(s): Junhua (Alex) Tao, Romas Kazlauskas

First published:12 April 2011

Print ISBN:9780470437780 |Online ISBN:9781118028308 |DOI:10.1002/9781118028308

Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

https://onlinelibrary-wiley-com.are.uab.cat/doi/book/10.1002/9781118028308

 

Carrier‐bound Immobilized Enzymes: Principles, Application and Design

Author(s): Dr. Linqiu Cao

First published:29 September 2005

Print ISBN:9783527312320 |Online ISBN:9783527607662 |DOI:10.1002/3527607668

Copyright © 2005 Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA

https://bibcercador.uab.cat/permalink/34CSUC_UAB/cugbhl/alma991010341558406709

 

 

 

Green Biocatalysis

Editor(s): Ramesh N. Patel

First published:13 May 2016

Print ISBN:9781118822296 |Online ISBN:9781118828083 |DOI:10.1002/9781118828083

Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

https://cataleg.uab.cat/iii/encore/record/C__Rb2087415?lang=cat

 

 

 

Autor

Fersht, Alan, 1943-

Títol

Enzyme structure and mechanism / Alan Fersht

Edició

2nd. ed.

Publicació/producció

New York : W.H. Freeman, cop. 1985

Descripció

xxi, 475 p.; 24 cm

Matèria

Enzims

ISBN

0716716143

 

0716716151 (pbk.)

https://bibcercador.uab.cat/permalink/34CSUC_UAB/cugbhl/alma991002478739706709

 

 

Autor

Dixon, Malcolm

Títol

Enzymes / by Malcolm Dixon and Edwin C. Webb

Edició

3rd ed.

Publicació/producció

London : Longman, 1979

Descripció

XXIII + 1116 p.; 24 cm

Matèria

Enzims

https://bibcercador.uab.cat/permalink/34CSUC_UAB/cugbhl/alma991000758989706709

 

 

Títol

Enzyme biocatalysis : principles and applications / Andrés Illanes, editor

Publicació/producció

[Dordrecht] : Springer, 2008

Descripció

X, 391 p. : ill. ; 25 cm.

Matèria

Enzims -- Biotecnologia

 

Enzims -- Síntesi

ISBN

9781402083600

https://bibcercador.uab.cat/permalink/34CSUC_UAB/cugbhl/alma991008142159706709

 

 

Títol

Ingeniería bioquímica/Francesc Gòdia Casablancas y Josep López Santín (editores) ; Carles Casas Alvero ... [et al.]

Publicació/producció

Madrid : Síntesis, DL 1998

Descripció

350 p. : il.; 24 cm

Col·lecció

Ciencias químicas (Síntesis). Tecnología bioquímica y de los alimentos

Matèria

Enginyeria bioquímica

ISBN

8477386110

http://cataleg.uab.cat/record=b1425826~S1*cat

 

Autor

Bommarius, A. S.

Títol

Biocatalysis : [fundamentals and applications] / A.S.Bommarius, B.R.Riebel

Publicació/producció

Weinheim : Wiley-VCH, 2004

Descripció

XXIII, 611 p.; 24 cm

Matèria

Enzims

ISBN

3527303448

 https://bibcercador.uab.cat/permalink/34CSUC_UAB/cugbhl/alma991010349685006709

 

 

Títol

Multi-step enzyme catalysis : biotransformations and chemoenzymatic synthesis / edited by Eduardo Garcia-Junceda

Publicació/producció

Weinheim : Wiley-VCH ; Chichester : John Wiley, 2008

Descripció

241 p. ; 25 cm

Matèria

Catàlisi

 

Enzims -- Biotecnologia

ISBN

9783527319213

http://cataleg.uab.cat/record=b1747444~S1*cat

 

Títol

Immobilization of enzymes and cells / edited by Gordon F. Bickerstaff

Publicació/producció

Totowa : Humana Press, 1997

Descripció

XIV, 367 p.;23 cm

Col·lecció

Methods in biotechnology ; 1

Matèria

Enzims immobilitzats

 

Enzims -- Biotecnologia

 

Cèl·lules immobilitzades

ISBN

0896033864

https://bibcercador.uab.cat/permalink/34CSUC_UAB/cugbhl/alma991010401253806709

 

 

Autor

Faber, Kurt

Títol

Biotransformations in organic chemistry : a textbook : with 37 figures, 238 schemes and 16 tables / Kurt Faber

Edició

5th revised and corrected ed.

Publicació/producció

Berlin: Springer-Verlag, cop. 2004

Descripció

XI, 453 p. : il; 24 cm

Matèria

Reaccions químiques

 

Química orgànica -- Reaccions

ISBN

3540200975

http://cataleg.uab.cat/record=b1615815~S1*cat

 

Autor

Grunwald, Peter

Títol

Biocatalysis : biochemical fundamentals and applications / Peter Grunwald

Publicació/producció

London : Imperial College Press, 2009

Descripció

xvi, 1035 p. : il. ; 24 cm

Matèria

Enzims -- Biotecnologia

 

Biotecnologia

ISBN

9781860947711

 

1860947719

https://cataleg.uab.cat/record=b1778458~S1*cat

 

Kourist, R. (2015), Biocatalysis in Organic Synthesis. Science of Synthesis, Vol. 1–3. Edited by Kurt Faber, Wolf-Dieter Fessner and Nicholas J. Turner.. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 54: 12547. doi:10.1002/anie.201508130

 

Search engines of scientific bibliography:

Scholar Google: http://scholar.google.es/advanced_scholar_search?hl=en&lr=

Scopus: http://www.scopus.com/scopus/search/form.url?display=authorLookup

Scifinder: Software disponible a la UAB

Sience Direct: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journals

ISI Web of Knowledge: http://www.accesowok.fecyt.es/login/ 

 

Interesting web sites:

Base de dades d’enzims BRENDA: http://www.brenda-enzymes.info/

National Center for Biotechnology Information: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/

ExPASy (Expert Protein Analysis System) Proteomic Server: http://www.expasy.ch/

 


Software

No software


Groups and Languages

Please note that this information is provisional until 30 November 2025. You can check it through this link. To consult the language you will need to enter the CODE of the subject.

Name Group Language Semester Turn
(SEMm) Seminars (master) 1 Spanish first semester afternoon
(TEm) Theory (master) 1 Spanish first semester afternoon