Search
Close this search box.

Thème "PixCELLS"
Enzymes for Cell Factories & Plastics

A few words

Enzymes pour les usines cellulaires et les plastiques

PixCELLS focuses its research on the in-depth investigation and development of efficient and tailored enzymes for in vitro and in vivo applications. Using multi-scale integrative and multidisciplinary approaches combining closely sequence-based and structure-based, molecular modelling and computational design approaches to enzyme and metabolic engineering, PixCELLS tackles various challenges in collaboration with public and private partners that aim at:

  • Gaining fundamental knowledge on the relationships between sequence, structural organization, dynamics and enzyme properties (activity, specificity and stability) and interactions with partners (molecular assemblies, enzyme-polymer systems, enzyme-ligand, …)
  • Providing guidelines for reasoned in silico computer-aided conception of tailored enzymes for different biotechnological applications
  • Improving in cellulo production of value-added molecules by redirecting fluxes, enhancing enzymes performances and protein-protein interactions
  • Developing efficient in vitro enzyme-based solutions for different applications, notably to address environmental challenges (plastics, phyto-pathogens, …) but not exclusively

Responsables du thème : Isabelle André & Florence Bordes

Ongoing projects

OPTI-ZYME Project

2022-2027

ADEME OPTI-ZYME, France 2030 (2023-2027) & Private contracts (2022-2023)

Enzymes’ power for the recycling and biosynthesis of plastic polymers

For more than 10 years, we have actively been involved in the development of enzymes for plastic degradation and biosynthesis, mainly with our longtime partner Carbios Inc. This has led to the creation of a collaborative laboratory between INSA and Carbios and hosted at TBI, named PoPLaB (for “Polymers, PLastics and Biotechnology”), accounting for nearly 25 people from both TBI and Carbios.

https://www.carbios.com/fr/

BACTSQUEEZ Project

2022-2026

Bactsqueez

ANR PRCE

Bacterial signal quenching of plant pathogens with engineered enzymes

Within the frame of the ANR-funded project Bactsqueez, our group collaborates with Gene&GreenTK and I2BC to extend the Quorum Quenching approach to the degradation of AHL involved in the Quorum Sensing of highly problematic phytopathogens.

Read more: https://www.gene-greentk.com/company/bactsqueez-project

https://www.gene-greentk.com

 

BIOIMPULSE

2019-2025

ADEME

Bio-sourced production of a molecule for the development of non-toxic adhesives and resins

The BioImpulse project aims to create a new adhesive resin free of substances of very high concern such as formaldehydes. By developing a biobased molecule of interest, this project will open up new applications for biotechnology in the field of materials. The project supported by ADEME involves both academics and industrial partners: Resicare, Lesaffre, FCBA, INRAE, INSA Toulouse.

Read more: BioImpulse

LIPIDES

2023-2026

PhD Jérémy Le Reun (2022-2025), University of Barcelona (2022-2025)

Enzymatic and microbial engineering for the production of tailored lipids

We aim at developing efficient microbiological processes to produce original fatty acids, a class of compounds of great interest as synthons for industrial use. To develop such efficient microbial production systems, we work with the oleaginous model yeast Yarrowia lipolytica both at the enzymatic level (collaboration with ICREA-University of Barcelona) and at the metabolic level.

Deepen

2020-2024

ANR PRC Deepen (2020-2024), PhD Romain Launay (2020-2023)

Sequence- and Structure-based approaches for the comprehension of supramolecular protein assemblies: The case of ubiquinone biosynthesis pathway

Within the frame of the ANR-funded project Deepen, our group collaborates with TIMC-University of Grenoble and DSIMB from University of Paris to investigate and better understand supramolecular protein assemblies using multi-scale modelling and integrative approaches.

ECOCTS

2020-2024

CNRS@CREATE

INTRACREATE ECOCTS – NRF, CNRS@CREATE (France/Singapore)

Engineering biology for a circular bioeconomy – Towards urban sustainability

The EcoCTs project between France and Singapore, hosted by CNRS@CREATE, aims at producing new leading-edge scientific knowledge in the field of systems and engineering biology applied to a circular bioeconomy and to address generic knowledge-based bottlenecks to overcome main limitations in using biocatalysts for industrial production. It is a multi-teams program that involves researchers from TBI (CNRS, France), SynCTI (NUS, Singapore) and SIFBI (A*-star, Singapore) and coordinated by our group and SynCTi.

En savoir plus : https://www.cnrsatcreate.cnrs.fr/ecocts/