Reactivity Tuning of Metal‐Free Artificial Photoenzymes through Binding Site Specific Bioconjugation

The design and development of artificial metal-free photoenzymes aims to combine the selectivity enzymatic reactions with benefits modern synthetic photocatalysts. Removing need for rare earth metals allowing milder reaction conditions, leading a more sustainable catalytic system. Here, we present novel photoenzyme by integrating an organophotocatalytic moiety based on donor-acceptor into steroid carrier protein (SCP-2L). SCP-2L possesses hydrophobic tunnel facilitating substrate binding in aqueous media. photocatalyst was site-selectively bound three variants, possessing non-native cysteine residue strategically placed around protein. modified were shown be selective oxidation organic sulfides giving up 192 turnovers.