Functional characterization of a novel microbial esterase identified from the Indian Ocean and its use in the stereoselective preparation of (<Emphasis Type="Italic">R</Emphasis>)-methyl mandelate

Genomic mining has identified a novel microbial alkaline esterase from the Indian Ocean. This esterase was overexpressed in E. coli BL21 (DE3) and further functionally characterized. Under optimal conditions (10 mmol/L substrate, pH 6.0, 2 h at 40 °C), this esterase can hydrolyze racemic methyl mandelate to (R)-methyl mandelate with very high optical purity (e.e. >99%) and yield (nearly 90%). Interestingly, the stereoselectivity of this esterase is opposite to that of two previously reported lipases that can generate (S)-methyl mandelate through the hydrolysis of racemic methyl mandelate. No organic solvents or other additives were required to optimize the optical purity and production of the final chiral product (R)-methyl mandelate, which can potentially simplify the production procedure of (R)-methyl mandelate catalyzed by esterase.     

深海来源微生物乙酰酯酶的酶学性质鉴定及拆分制备D-乳酸甲酯

D-乳酸及其酯是重要的手性药物中间体和手性化工产品。从南海深海芽孢杆菌Bacillus sp. SCSIO15029克隆到一个乙酰酯酶基因bae02030, 表达并鉴定该酶Bae02030的酶学性质。该酯酶的最适pH和最适温度分别为8.5和35℃, 其对多种有机溶剂和表面活性剂具有较好的耐受性。乙酰酯酶Bae02030能够通过水解拆分消旋乳酸甲酯来制备光学纯的D-乳酸甲酯。通过对拆分反应进行优化, 添加体积分数为60%的正庚烷能够改善乙酰酯酶Bae02030的光学选择性, 所制备的D-乳酸甲酯的对映体过量值(e.e._s)超过99%, 转化率(c)为56%。深海微生物来源的乙酰酯酶Bae02030作为生物催化剂在工业上制备手性药物中间体具有较好的应用潜力。     

Characterization of a novel deep-sea microbial esterase EstC10 and its use in the generation of (R)-methyl2-chloropropionate

A novel esterase Est C10 from B acillus sp. CX01 isolated from the deep sea of the Western Pacific Ocean and the functionalities of Est C10 was characterized. At present, the reports about the kinetic resolution of racemic methyl 2-chloropropionate were quite rare. So we developed deep-sea microbial esterase Est C10 as a novel biocatalyst in the kinetic resolution of racemic methyl 2-chloropropionate and generate( R)-methyl 2-chloropropionate with high enantiomeric excess(99%) after the optimization of process parameters such as p H, temperature, organic co-solvents, surfactants, substrate concentration and reaction time. Notably, the optimal substrate concentration(80 mmol/L) of esterase Est C10 was higher than the kinetic resolution of another esterase, Est12-7(50 mmol/L). The novel microbial esterase Est C10 identified from the deep sea was a promising green biocatalyst in the generation of( R)-methyl 2-chloropropionate as well of many other valuable chiral chemicals in industry.