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Biotransformation of nitriles by rhodococci

Bunch, Alan William (1998) Biotransformation of nitriles by rhodococci. Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek, 74 (1-3). pp. 89-97. ISSN 0003-6072. (doi:10.1023/A:1001760129546) (The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:17610)

The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided.
Official URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1001760129546

Abstract

Rhodococci have been shown to be capable of a very wide range of biotransformations. Of these, the conversion of nitriles into amides or carboxylic acids has been studied in great detail because of the biotechnological potential of such activities. Initial investigations used relatively simple aliphatic nitriles. These studies were quickly followed by the examination of the regio- and stereoselective properties of the enzymes involved, which has revealed the potential synthetic utility of rhodococcal nitrile biotransforming enzymes. Physiological studies on rhodococci have shown the importance of growth medium design and bioreactor operation for the maximal conversion of nitriles. This in turn has resulted in some truly remarkable biotransformation activities being obtained, which have been successfully exploited for commercial organic syntheses (e.g. acrylamide production from acrylonitrile). The two main types of enzyme involved in nitrile biotransformations by rhodococci are nitrile hydratases (amide synthesis) and nitrilases (carboxylic acid synthesis with no amide intermediate released). It is becoming clear that many rhodococci contain both activities and multiple forms of each enzyme, often induced in a complex way by nitrogen containing molecules. The genes for many nitrile-hydrolysing enzymes have been identified and sequenced. The crystal structure of one nitrile hydratase is now available and has revealed many interesting aspects of the enzyme structure in relationship to its catalytic activity and substrate selectivity.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1023/A:1001760129546
Uncontrolled keywords: nitriles; nitrile hydratase; nitrilase; biotransformations
Subjects: Q Science > QR Microbiology
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Natural Sciences > Biosciences
Depositing User: I. Ghose
Date Deposited: 05 Apr 2009 09:57 UTC
Last Modified: 16 Nov 2021 09:55 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/17610 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Bunch, Alan William.

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