Efficient production of (R)-(−)-mandelic acid with highly substrate/product tolerant and enantioselective nitrilase of recombinant Alcaligenes sp

Arylacetonitrilases: Potential Biocatalysts for Green Chemistry

Nitrilases are the enzymes that catalyze the hydrolysis of nitriles to corresponding carboxylic acid and ammonia. They are broadly categorized into aromatic, aliphatic, and arylacetonitrilases based on their substrate specificity. Most of the studies pertaining to these enzymes in the literature have focused on aromatic and aliphatic nitrilases. However, arylacetonitrilases have attracted the attention of academia and industry in the last several years due to their aryl specificity and enantioselectivity. They have emerged as interesting biocatalytic tools in green chemistry to synthesize useful aryl acids such as mandelic acid and derivatives of phenylacetic acid. The aim of the present review is to collate information on the arylacetonitrilases and their catalytic properties including enantioselectivity and potential applications in organic synthesis.

Green synthesis aspects of (R)-(-)-mandelic acid; a potent pharmaceutically active agent and its future prospects

(R)-(-)-mandelic acid is an important carboxylic acid known for its numerous potential applications in the pharmaceutical industry as it is an ideal starting material for the synthesis of antibiotics, antiobesity drugs and antitumor agents. In past few decades, the synthesis of (R)-(-)-mandelic acid has been undertaken mainly through the chemical route. However, chemical synthesis of optically pure (R)-(-)-mandelic acid is difficult to achieve at an industrial scale. Therefore, its microbe mediated production has gained considerable attention as it exhibits many merits over the chemical approaches. The present review focuses on various biotechnological strategies for the production of (R)-(-)-mandelic acid through microbial biotransformation and enzymatic catalysis; in particular, an analysis and comparison of the synthetic methods and different enzymes. The wild type as well as recombinant microbial strains for the production of (R)-(-)-mandelic acid have been elucidated. In addition, different microbial strategies used for maximum bioconversion of mandelonitrile into (R)-(-)-mandelic acid are discussed in detail with regard to higher substrate tolerance and maximum bioconversion.HighlightsMandelonitrile, mandelamide and o-chloromandelonitrile can be used as substrates to produce (R)-(-)-mandelic acid by enzymes.Three enzymes (nitrilase, nitrile hydratase and amidase) are systematically introduced for production of (R)-(-)-mandelic acid.Microbial transformation is able to produce optically pure (R)-(-)-mandelic acid with 100% productive yield.

Optimization of the medium composition and product extraction for R-mandelic acid using recombinant Escherichia coli expressing Alcaligenes sp. nitrilase

The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of the components of the medium on nitrilase expression in recombinant Escherichia coli ( E. coli), which is applied in the hydrolysis of racemic mandelonitrile (MN) to R-mandelic acid (MA). In addition, the separation of R-MA from the reaction mixture is studied. The glycerol medium is screened, and compositions are optimized in single-factor experiments. The nitrilase activity is 1.96-fold higher than before using the optimal medium containing peptone 15 g/L, yeast extract 12 g/L, NaCl 10 g/L, glycerol 15 g/L, (NH4)2SO4 5 g/L, KH2PO4 10 mM, K2HPO4·3H2O 10 mM, and MgSO4·7H2O 15 mM. During the acid-base extraction of R-MA, the optimal alkaline pH, the alkaline extractant ratio, the optimal acidic pH, the acidic extractant ratio and the amount of activated carbon are 10.0, 1:0.5 (once), 2.50, 1:2 (twice) and 1%, respectively. This study provides a basis for the industrial production of R-MA.

Production of (R)-mandelic acid from styrene, L-phenylalanine, glycerol, or glucose via cascade biotransformations

(R)-mandelic acid is an industrially important chemical, especially used for producing antibiotics. Its chemical synthesis often uses highly toxic cyanide to produce its racemic form, followed by kinetic resolution with 50% maximum yield. Here we report a green and sustainable biocatalytic method for producing (R)-mandelic acid from easily available styrene, biobased L-phenylalanine, and renewable feedstocks such as glycerol and glucose, respectively. An epoxidation-hydrolysis-double oxidation artificial enzyme cascade was developed to produce (R)-mandelic acid at 1.52 g/L from styrene with > 99% ee. Incorporation of deamination and decarboxylation into the above cascade enables direct conversion of L-phenylalanine to (R)-mandelic acid at 913 mg/L and > 99% ee. Expressing the five-enzyme cascade in an L-phenylalanine-overproducing E. coli NST74 strain led to the direct synthesis of (R)-mandelic acid from glycerol or glucose, affording 228 or 152 mg/L product via fermentation. Moreover, coupling of E. coli cells expressing L-phenylalanine biosynthesis pathway with E. coli cells expressing the artificial enzyme cascade enabled the production of 760 or 455 mg/L (R)-mandelic acid from glycerol or glucose. These simple, safe, and green methods show great potential in producing (R)-mandelic acid from renewable feedstocks.

Nitrilase: a promising biocatalyst in industrial applications for green chemistry

Nitrilases are widely distributed in nature and are able to hydrolyze nitriles into their corresponding carboxylic acids and ammonia. In industry, nitrilases have been used as green biocatalysts for the production of high value-added products. To date, biocatalysts are considered to be important alternatives to chemical catalysts due to increasing environmental problems and resource scarcity. This review provides an overview of recent advances of nitrilases in aspects of distribution, enzyme screening, molecular structure and catalytic mechanism, protein engineering, and their potential applications in industry.

Characterization of a new nitrilase from Hoeflea phototrophica DFL-43 for a two-step one-pot synthesis of (S)-β-amino acids

A nitrilase from Hoeflea phototrophica DFL-43 (HpN) demonstrating excellent catalytic activity towards benzoylacetonitrile was identified from a nitrilase tool-box, which was developed previously in our laboratory for (R)-o-chloromandelic acid synthesis from o-chloromandelonitrile. The HpN was overexpressed in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3), purified to homogeneity by nickel column affinity chromatography, and its biochemical properties were studied. The HpN was very stable at 30-40 °C, and highly active over a wide range of pH values (pH 6.0-10.0). In addition, the HpN could tolerate against several hydrophilic organic solvents. Steady-state kinetics indicated that HpN was highly active towards benzoylacetonitrile, giving a K_M of 4.2 mM and a k_cat of 170 s^-1, the latter of which is ca. fivefold higher than the highest record reported so far. A cascade reaction for the synthesis of optically pure (S)-β-phenylalanine from benzoylacetonitrile was developed by coupling HpN with an ω-transaminase from Polaromonas sp. JS666 in toluene-water biphasic reaction system using β-alanine as an amino donor. Various (S)-β-amino acids could be produced from benzoylacetonitrile derivatives with moderate to high conversions (73-99%) and excellent enantioselectivity (> 99% ee). These results are significantly advantageous over previous studies, indicating a great potential of this cascade reaction for the practical synthesis of (S)-β-phenylalanine in the future.

Stereoselective biotransformation of racemic mandelic acid using immobilized laccase and (S)-mandelate dehydrogenase

Objectives

(S)-Mandelate dehydrogenase (SMDH) and laccase were immobilized on chitosan. The bi-enzymatic system with immobilized SMDH and immobilized laccase was taken to catalyze the stereoselective transformation of racemic mandelic acid and (R)-mandelic acid was obtained from its racemic mixture.

Results

Characteristics of the immobilized enzymes were valuated. The optimum pH and temperature of the immobilized SMDH were found to be pH 3.4 and 45 °C, and these of the immobilized laccase were about pH 6.0 and 55 °C, respectively. The K_m value of the immobilized SMDH for racemic mandelic acid was 0.27 mM and that of the immobilized laccase for ferrocyanide was 0.99 mM. The thermal and storage stabilities of these enzymes were improved with immobilization. The enantiomeric purity of the bi-enzymatically produced (R)-mandelic acid was determined to be over 99%.

Conclusion

The immobilized bi-enzymatic system for the stereoselective transformation of racemic mandelic acid showed higher productivity, faster reaction velocity, and more stable catalytic ability.Graphical abstract

Cloning, purification and evaluation of the enzymatic properties of a novel arylacetonitrilase from Luminiphilus syltensis NOR5-1B: a potential biocatalyst for the synthesis of mandelic acid and its derivatives

OBJECTIVE

To examine nitrilase-mediated hydrolysis of nitriles to produce optically pure α-hydroxycarboxylic acids.

RESULTS

A novel nitrilase, GPnor51, from Luminiphilus syltensis NOR5-1B was discovered by genomic data mining. It could hydrolyze racemic o-chloromandelonitrile to (R)-o-chloromandelic acid with high enantioselectivity (ee 98.2 %). GPnor51 was overexpressed in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3), purified, and its catalytic properties studied. GPnor51 had a broad substrate acceptance toward various nitriles with structure diversity. It was an arylacetonitrilase that uses arylacetonitriles as optimal substrates. The V max and K m of GPnor51 towards o-chloromandelonitrile were 1.9 μmol min(-1) mg(-1) protein and 0.38 mM, respectively. GPnor51 also demonstrated high enantioselectivity toward mandelonitrile and other substituted mandelonitrile.

CONCLUSION

This enzyme has a great potential for commercial production of optically pure (R)-mandelic acid and its derivatives.

Nitrile-converting enzymes: an eco-friendly tool for industrial biocatalysis

Nitriles are organic compounds bearing a − C ≡ N group; they are frequently known to occur naturally in both fauna and flora and are also synthesized chemically. They have wide applicability in the fields of medicine, industry, and environmental monitoring. However, the majority of nitrile compounds are considered to be lethal, mutagenic, and carcinogenic in nature and are known to cause potential health problems such as nausea, bronchial irritation, respiratory distress, convulsions, coma, and skeletal deformities in humans. Nitrile-converting enzymes, which are extracted from microorganisms, are commonly termed nitrilases and have drawn the attention of researchers all over the world to combat the toxicity of nitrile compounds. The present review focuses on the utility of nitrile-converting enzymes, sources, classification, structure, properties, and applications, as well as the future perspective on nitrilases.

Discovery of a reductase-producing strain recombinant E. coli CCZU-A13 using colorimetric screening and its whole cell-catalyzed biosynthesis of ethyl (R)-4-chloro-3-hydroxybutanoate

An NADH-dependent reductase (SsCR) was discovered by genome data mining. After SsCR was overexpressed in E. coli BL21, recombinant E. coli CCZU-A13 with high reductase activity and excellent stereoselectivity for the reduction of ethyl 4-chloro-3-oxobutanoate (COBE) into ethyl (R)-4-chloro-3-hydroxybutanoate ((R)-CHBE) was screened using one high-throughput colorimetric screening strategy. After the reaction optimization, a highly stereoselective bioreduction of COBE into (R)-CHBE (>99% ee) with the resting cells of E. coli CCZU-A13 was successfully demonstrated in n-butyl acetate-water (10:90, v/v) biphasic system. Biotransformation of 600mM COBE for 8h in the biphasic system, (R)-CHBE (>99% ee) could be obtained in the high yield of 100%. Moreover, the broad substrate specificity in the reduction of aliphatic and aromatic carbonyl compounds was also found. Significantly, E. coli CCZU-A13 shows high potential in the industrial production of (R)-CHBE (>99% ee) and its derivatives.

Improvement of Alcaligenes faecalis nitrilase by gene site saturation mutagenesis and its application in stereospecific biosynthesis of (R)-(-)-mandelic acid

Nitrilases have recently received considerable attention as the biocatalysts for stereospecific production of carboxylic acids. To improve the activity, the nitrilase from Alcaligenes faecalis was selected for further modification by the gene site saturation mutagenesis method (GSSM), based on homology modeling and previous reports about mutations. After mutagenesis, the positive mutants were selected using a convenient two-step high-throughput screening method based on product formation and pH indicator combined with the HPLC method. After three rounds of GSSM, Mut3 (Gln196Ser/Ala284Ile) with the highest activity and ability of tolerance to the substrate was selected. As compared to the wild-type A. faecalis nitrilase, Mut3 showed 154% higher specific activity. Mut3 could retain 91.6% of its residual activity after incubation at pH 6.5 for 6 h. In a fed-batch reaction with 800 mM mandelonitrile as the substrate, the cumulative production of (R)-(-)-mandelic acid after 7.5 h of conversion reached 693 mM with an enantiomeric excess of 99%, and the space-time productivity of Mut3 was 21.50-fold higher than that of wild-type nitrilase. The Km, Vmax, and k(cat) of wild-type and Mut3 for mandelonitrile were 20.64 mM, 33.74 μmol mg(-1) min(-1), 24.45 s(-1), and 9.24 mM, 47.68 μmol mg(-1) min(-1), and 34.55 s(-1), respectively. A homology modeling and molecular docking study showed that the diameter of the catalytic tunnel of Mut3 became longer and that the tunnel volume was smaller. These structural changes are proposed to improve the hydrolytic activity and pH stability of Mut3. Mut3 has the potential for industrial applications in the upscale production of (R)-(-)-mandelic acid.

Analysis of the molecular structure and vibrational spectra of the indole based analgesic drug indomethacin

The stability of the syn and anti structures of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug indomethacin were investigated by the DFT-B3LYP and ab initio MP2 calculations with the 6-311G(**) basis set. The molecule was predicted at the DFT and MP2 levels of calculation to have the syn (C1N7C10C18 ∼40°) form being about 1.7 and 1.5kcal/mol, respectively lower in energy than the anti (C1N7C10C18 ∼140°) structure. The calculated CNCC torsional angles for the chlorobenzene and indole rings syn-anti conformational interconversion was in a good qualitative agreement with the reported X-ray angles (C1N7C10C18 ∼29 and 155°) for the syn and anti conformers, respectively). Indomethacin was estimated from the calculated Gibb's free energies to have an equilibrium mixture of 95% syn and 5% anti structures at 298.15K. The vibrational wavenumbers were computed at the B3LYP level of theory and complete vibrational assignments were provided on the basis of theoretical and normal coordinate calculations combined with experimental infrared and Raman data of the molecule. The analysis of the observed spectra supports the presence of indomethacin in only one conformation at room temperature.

Discovery and characterization of a highly efficient enantioselective mandelonitrile hydrolase from Burkholderia cenocepacia J2315 by phylogeny-based enzymatic substrate specificity prediction

BACKGROUND

A nitrilase-mediated pathway has significant advantages in the production of optically pure (R)-(-)-mandelic acid. However, unwanted byproduct, low enantioselectivity, and specific activity reduce its value in practical applications. An ideal nitrilase that can efficiently hydrolyze mandelonitrile to optically pure (R)-(-)-mandelic acid without the unwanted byproduct is needed.

RESULTS

A novel nitrilase (BCJ2315) was discovered from Burkholderia cenocepacia J2315 through phylogeny-based enzymatic substrate specificity prediction (PESSP). This nitrilase is a mandelonitrile hydrolase that could efficiently hydrolyze mandelonitrile to (R)-(-)-mandelic acid, with a high enantiomeric excess of 98.4%. No byproduct was observed in this hydrolysis process. BCJ2315 showed the highest identity of 71% compared with other nitrilases in the amino acid sequence. BCJ2315 possessed the highest activity toward mandelonitrile and took mandelonitrile as the optimal substrate based on the analysis of substrate specificity. The kinetic parameters Vmax, Km, Kcat, and Kcat/Km toward mandelonitrile were 45.4 μmol/min/mg, 0.14 mM, 15.4 s(-1), and 1.1×10(5) M(-1)s(-1), respectively. The recombinant Escherichia coli M15/BCJ2315 had a strong substrate tolerance and could completely hydrolyze mandelonitrile (100 mM) with fewer amounts of wet cells (10 mg/ml) within 1 h.

CONCLUSIONS

PESSP is an efficient method for discovering an ideal mandelonitrile hydrolase. BCJ2315 has high affinity and catalytic efficiency toward mandelonitrile. This nitrilase has great advantages in the production of optically pure (R)-(-)-mandelic acid because of its high activity and enantioselectivity, strong substrate tolerance, and having no unwanted byproduct. Thus, BCJ2315 has great potential in the practical production of optically pure (R)-(-)-mandelic acid in the industry.

Nitrilases in nitrile biocatalysis: recent progress and forthcoming research

Over the past decades, nitrilases have drawn considerable attention because of their application in nitrile degradation as prominent biocatalysts. Nitrilases are derived from bacteria, filamentous fungi, yeasts, and plants. In-depth investigations on their natural sources function mechanisms, enzyme structure, screening pathways, and biocatalytic properties have been conducted. Moreover, the immobilization, purification, gene cloning and modifications of nitrilase have been dwelt upon. Some nitrilases are used commercially as biofactories for carboxylic acids production, waste treatment, and surface modification. This critical review summarizes the current status of nitrilase research, and discusses a number of challenges and significant attempts in its further development. Nitrilase is a significant and promising biocatalyst for catalytic applications.

Biosynthesis of benzoylformic acid from benzoyl cyanide by a newly isolated Rhodococcus sp. CCZU10-1 in toluene-water biphasic system

Benzoylformic acid was synthesized from the hydrolysis of benzoyl cyanide by a newly isolated Rhodococcus sp. CCZU10-1. In this study, an aqueous-toluene biphasic system was developed for highly efficient production of benzoylformic acid from the hydrolysis of benzoyl cyanide. In the aqueous-toluene biphasic system, the phase volume ratio, buffer pH and reaction temperature were optimized. Using fed-batch method, a total of 932 mM benzoylformic acid accumulated in the reaction mixture after the 10th feed. Moreover, enzymatic hydrolysis of benzoyl cyanide using calcium alginate entrapped resting cells was carried out in the aqueous-toluene biphasic system, and efficient biocatalyst recycling was achieved as a result of cell immobilization in calcium alginate, with a product-to-biocatalyst ratio of 14.26g benzoylformic acid g(-1) dry cell weight (DCW) cell after 20 cycles of repeated use.

ANALYSIS OF THE VIBRATIONAL SPECTRA OF 3,4-DIHYDROXY- AND 4-HYDROXY-3-METHOXYPHENYLACETIC ACIDS AND THE RING BREATHING MODE IN THEIR RAMAN SPECTRA

The structural stability of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid and 4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenylacetic acid were investigated using the DFT-B3LYP and the ab initio MP2 methods together with the 6-311G** basis set. The two molecules were predicted at the DFT and MP2 levels of calculation to have the non-planar (np) forms as the lowest energy conformer of the acids. Another very low lying conformer of the former acid in the gas phase seems to play no role in the condensed phase. The observed spectral intensities of the acids were consistent with the np conformation being the predominant form at room temperature. The vibrational wavenumbers were computed at the B3LYP level of theory and vibrational assignments were provided on the basis of combined theroretical and experimental infrared and Raman data of the molecules. As reported earlier in the case of chlorine substituted anilines, the ring breathing mode, which is expected to have a very high intensity in the Raman spectra of substituted benzenes, diminishes in intensity with increasing electron density in the ring (activation for electrophilic attacks).

New opportunities for biocatalysis: driving the synthesis of chiral chemicals

Various biocatalytic methods have been developed for the synthesis of chiral chemicals, which have made their synthesis more environmentally friendly and product-specific. New opportunities for biocatalysis, including new scientific developments in genomics and protein engineering technologies, novel process developments and the increased availability of useful enzymes, offer many possibilities for the manufacture of new chiral compounds and deliver greener and economically competitive processes. In this review, new opportunities for biocatalysis in the preparation of chiral molecules are outlined and highlighted.