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' - Breakthrough in tracking biocatalysis by single cells opens up new possibilities in "green chemistry" The transformation of chemical compounds by living cells - so-called whole-cell biocatalysts - is a process that has been known for some time and has led to a wealth of interesting products. This is evident, for example, in traditional processes such as bread baking or beer brewing, where molecules produced by yeast fungi contribute significantly to flavor. Highly complex chemical molecules such as vitamins or pharmaceuticals can also be produced using this principle. Similar to beer brewing, this happens under very resource-efficient conditions: The reaction is carried out in large vessels (fermenters) in which the starting compounds are converted into valuable products in an aqueous nutrient medium by millions of living cells that serve as biocatalysts. Researchers at the University of Leipzig have now succeeded in shrinking the fermenter vessels in such a way that, for the first time, the biocatalysis of individual cells can be studied. A key to the breakthrough was the use of microfluidic technology, in which liquid flows in hair-thin channels of microchips can be controlled in a targeted manner. This enabled the production of nanoliter-tiny droplets in which individual yeast cells were placed.
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