Lipases: Structure, Function and Applications in Biotransformations: A Descriptive Summary of an International Conference Held in Coventry (United Kingdom) on 16-18 July 1991

Abstract

It is now well recognised that lipases play an important role in biotransformations, i.e. the transformations of chemical substances into other substances in reactions catalysed by these enzymes. Lipases are the most frequently used enzymes in this area and their use in organic synthesis, particularly where control of stereochemistry is important, is nowadays widespread. The stereochemistry of biologically active compounds is recognised as of considerable, and sometimes critical, importance. Stereoisomers of given compounds always exhibit differences in biological systems, and sometimes these differences are crucial. The case of thalidomide is perhaps the most telling example of this phenomenon. That one stereoisomer of thalidomide was a harmless sedative and the other a dangerous teratogen was recognised too late to spare many hundreds of families the tragedy of children born with extreme deformities.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jul 18, 1991
Accession Number
ADA243010

Entities

Organizations

  • University of Warwick

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acids
  • Amino Acids
  • Anhydrides
  • Bioconversion
  • Chemical Synthesis
  • Chemistry
  • Crystal Structure
  • Enzymes
  • Esters
  • Fatty Acid Esters
  • Fatty Acids
  • Hydrolysis
  • Oleic Acid
  • Stereochemistry
  • Stereoisomers
  • Substrates
  • Systems Biology

Fields of Study

  • Chemistry

Readers

  • Academic Conference Management
  • Educational Psychology
  • Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry