Industrial Biotransformations

Nitrilase / Hydroxylase
Agrobacterium sp.
Fig. 3.5.5.1 / 1.5.1.13 – 1
1) Reaction conditions
[1]: 0.29 M, 30 g · L –1 [105.1 g · mol –1 ]
pH: 6.0–8.0
T: 15 °C – 45 °C
medium: aqueous
reaction type: N-bond hydrolysis (nitrile hydrolysis)
catalyst: suspended, living whole cells
enzyme: E1: nitrilase (nitrile aminohydrolase) and E2: hydroxylase (nicotinate dehydrogenase)
(EC 1.5.1.13)
strain: Agrobacterium sp. DSM 6336 (E1 + E2)
CAS (enzyme): E1: [9024–90–2] / E2: [9059-03–4]
2) Remarks
EC 3.5.5.1 / 1.5.1.13
● In contrast to the biotransformation the chemical synthesis of 5-substituted pyrazine-2-carboxylic
acid leads to a mixture of 5- and 6-substituted pyrazinecarboxylic acids and requires
multiple steps.
● Although the reaction sequence of growth and biotransformation are pretty similar, the cells
grown on 2-cyanopyridine are much more active due to an optimized expression of the hydroxylase.
Additonally, the degradation pathway in case of 2-cyanopyrazine can be stopped.
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