Efficient synthesis of trans-polyisoprene compounds using two thermostable enzymes in an organic–aqueous dual-liquid phase system

Efficient in vitro synthesis of cis-polyisoprenes using a thermostable cis-prenyltransferase from a hyperthermophilic archaeon Thermococcus kodakaraensis

The Tk-idsB encoding cis-prenyltransferase which catalyzes consecutive cis-condensation of isopentenyl diphosphate to allylic diphosphate was isolated from a hyperthermophilic archaeon Thermococcus kodakaraensis, and enzymatic characteristics of the recombinant Tk-IdsB were examined. Tk-IdsB was not fully denatured even at 90 degrees C and preferably utilizes both C(10) and C(15) allylic diphosphates to yield mainly the C(60)-C(65) products. Based on structural models, single alanine-substitution mutants at Glu68, Lys109, or Leu113 were constructed, showing that all the three produced longer chains (C(65)-C(70)) than the wild-type and the substitution at 109 (K109A) was the most effective. Tk-IdsB was applied to an organic-aqueous dual-phase system and more than 90% of the products were recovered from the organic phase when 1-butanol or 1-pentanol was overlaid. When 1-octanol was overlaid, 70% of the products were obtained from the upper organic phase. The product distributions were changed depending on the hydrophobicity of organic solvents used. Tk-IdsB was then immobilized onto silica beads to make Tk-IdsB more tolerant, showing that half-life of enzyme at 80 degrees C was prolonged by immobilization. When the immobilized Tk-IdsB was applied in the organic-aqueous dual-phase system, immobilized Tk-IdsB catalyzed consecutive condensation more efficiently than the unimmobilized one.

Enhancement of substrate concentration in microbial stereoinversion through one-pot oxidation and reduction by aqueous two-phase system

An extractive biocatalytic method of aqueous two-phase system was employed for stereoinversing (R)-1-phenyl-1,2-ethanediol into (S)-1-phenyl-1,2-ethanediol by Candida parapsilosis CCTCC M203011. It was observed that substrate and product inhibitions in microbial stereoinversion through one-pot oxidation and reduction were removed efficiently by extractive biocatalysis in aqueous two-phase system with PEG 4000/phosphate potassium system, and that the substrate concentration was enhanced from 15 to 30 g/L with product optical purity of 99.02% e.e. and yield of 90% after 60 h. Simultaneously, it was observed that change in cell morphology impedes the further enhancement of substrate concentration in this system but can be reversibly changed after stereoinversion or cultivation in systems without PEG.