Exploiting UPO versatility to transform rutin in more soluble and bioactive products

The discovery of unspecific peroxygenases (UPOs) completely changed the paradigm of enzyme-based oxyfunctionalization reactions, as these enzymes can transform a wide variety of substrates with a relatively simple reaction mechanism. The fact that UPO can exert both peroxygenative and peroxidative activity in either aromatic or aliphatic carbons, represents a great potential in the production of high value-added products from natural antioxidants. In this work, the flavonoid rutin has been considered as possible substrate for UPO from Agrocybe aegerita, and its peroxygenation or its peroxidation and successive oligomerization have been studied. Different experiments were performed in order to reduce the range of process variables involved and gaining insight on the behavior of this enzyme, leading to a multivariable optimization of UPO-based rutin modification. While trying to preserve enzyme activity this optimization aimed for maximizing the production of more soluble antioxidants. Reusability of the enzyme was evaluated recovering UPO using an enzymatic membrane reactor, revealing challenges in enzyme stability due to inactivation during the filtration stages. The influence of the radical scavenger ascorbic acid on product formation was investigated, revealing its role in directing the reaction towards hydroxylated rutin derivatives, hence indicating a shift towards more soluble and bioactive products.