Opportunities for interfacing organometallic catalysts with cellular metabolism

A concerted effort of synthetic chemistry and synthetic biology promises to expand biological function without the need for extensive genetic manipulation. In such scenarios, man-made catalysts perform new-to-nature transformations on molecules, which are either provided or further diversified by biocatalysts in designer microbes. Here, we highlight the potential of interfacing man-made catalysts with cellular metabolism by discussing the importance of non-enzymatic, metal-catalyzed transformations in nature, means to identify biocompatible transition-metal complexes and their successful integration with cellular metabolism. Lastly, we provide a critical analysis of future prospects and remaining challenges for the applications of biocompatible catalysts in synthetic chemistry, biotechnology, and biomedicine