Chemical modification as a tool in nonaqueous enzymology.

Nonaqueous solvents have been widely regarded as incompatible media for enzymes. Nevertheless, there is now an extensive body of literature on nonaqueous activity of enzymes in living systems as well as tools of chemistry and biology enhancing the compatibility of enzymatic processes in nonaqueous environments. Likewise, a series of chemical modification development campaigns have demonstrated the power of nonaqueous approaches, offering a unique opportunity in a broad array of fields spanning chemical biology, enzyme engineering, food science, nanoscience, and sustainable chemistry. In this Opinion, we discuss the current state of such nonaqueous chemical modification strategies by highlighting recent reports.