Emerging approaches for biocatalysis supporting a sustainable future: Enzymes wanted, dead or alive

In this Activity article, Daniel Volke (tenure-track researcher), Antonin Cros (PhD student), and Ditte H. Welner and Pablo I. Nikel (senior researchers and group leaders) at the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability of the Technical University of Denmark exchange views on the importance of selecting a suitable system for next-generation biocatalysis—exposing the pros and cons of whole-cell approaches, enzymatic cascades assembled from purified components, or cell-free bioproduction. The advantages and disadvantages of these systems are discussed against key application examples, such as fluorine biocatalysis.