Microbial hydroxylation of unsaturated, cyclic carboxylic acids protected as benzoxazoles

Microbial hydroxylation of 2-(cyclopent-1-enyl)benzoxazole (1) and 2-(cyclohex-1-enyl)benzoxazole (2) by Cunninghamella blakesleeana DSM 1906 and Bacillus megaterium DSM 32, respectively, gave chiral allylic alcohols 3-(benz-1,3-oxazol-2-yl)cyclopent-2-en-1-ol (3) and 3-(benz-1,3-oxazol-2-yl)cyclohex-2-en-1-ol (4) along with achiral ketones 3-(benz-1,3-oxazol-2-yl)cyclopent-2-en-1-one (5) and 3-(benz-1,3-oxazol-2-yl)cyclohex-2-en-1-one (6). Both allylic alcohols were produced in enantiomeric excesses higher than 99%. The determination of their absolute configurations (S in both cases) is described.     

Biotransformation of germacrane-type sesquiterpenoids by Aspergillus niger

Three germacrane-type sesquiterpenoids, (+)-germacrone-4,5-epoxide, germacrone and (+)-curdione were biotransformed by Aspergillus niger to give hydroxylated guaiane-type sesquiterpenoids together with allylic alcohols and spirolactone.     

A 38 kDa allylic alcohol dehydrogenase from the cultured cells of Nicotiana tabacum

An NADP+-dependent alcohol dehydrogenase (allyl-ADH) was isolated from the cultured cells of Nicotiana tabacum. The allyl-ADH was found to be efficient for the dehydrogenation of secondary allylic alcohols rather than saturated secondary alcohols and it was specific for the S-stereoisomer of the alcohols. The enzyme catalyzed the reversible reaction whereby the carbonyl group of enones is reduced to the corresponding allylic alcohol or vice versa. Two possible primary structures of the allyl-ADH were deduced by the sequence analyses of full-length cDNAs (allyl-ADH1 and ally-ADH2), which were cloned by the PCR method. These analyses indicated that the allyl-ADHs are composed of 343 amino acids having the molecular weights 38083 and 37994, respectively, and they showed approximately 70% homology to the NADP+-dependent oxidoreductases belonging to a plant zeta-crystallin family.     

Kinetic and Mechanistic Studies of a Novel Carbonyl Reductase Isolated from Candida Parapsilosis

The novel carbonyl reductase from Candida parapsilosis (CPCR) exhibits a very broad substrate specificity, accepting primary and secondary alcohols, aldehydes, ketoacetals, aliphatic and aromatic ketones, cyclic ketones, diketones, halogenated ketones, keto esters and halogenated keto esters of variable chain length as substrates. Based on the kinetic constants of a variety of different substrates a hypothetical model of the substrate-binding site is proposed. The small alkyl side chain of the carbonyl compound is bound to a small pocket of the binding site, while the large alkyl group is orientated towards the large hydrophobic pocket. This model and the kinetic data enables the prediction of whether a substrate of interest may be reduced by the CPCR. Product inhibition studies are reported which show that the kinetic mechanism of the CPCR is Ordered Bi-Bi, with the nucleotide adding to free enzyme before the other substrate. Alcohols and/or ketones are adsorbed at sites other than the active site and alter the catalytic properties of the enzyme. The enzyme transfers the pro-R hydride of NADH to the re face of the carbonyl compounds yielding (S) alcohols.     

Cytochrome P-450 model reactions: efficient and highly selective oxidation of alcohols with tetrabutylammonium peroxymonosulfate catalyzed by Mn-porphyrins

A novel biomimetic method for rapid oxidation of a wide range of benzylic, allylic, aliphatic, primary and secondary alcohols to the related aldehydes and ketones using Bu(4)NHSO(5) catalyzed by Mn(TPP)OAc/pyridine system with high to excellent yields and excellent selectivity has been developed. The high turnover rates obtained in this catalytic system represent a high efficiency and also relative stability of Mn-porphyrin catalyst towards oxidative degradation. The presence of an electron-withdrawing group on the phenyl ring of both benzyl alcohol and porphyrin ligand increases the reactivity of substrate as well as catalytic activity of Mn-porphyrin catalyst in the oxidation reaction.     

Enantioselective oxidation of secondary alcohols by quinohaemoprotein alcohol dehydrogenase from Comamonas testosteroni

Purified and reconstituted quinohaemoprotein alcohol dehydrogenase (QH-EDH) from Comamonas testosteroni is shown to oxidize secondary alcohols enantioselectively. The products formed during the oxidation of secondary alcohols were positively identified as the corresponding ketones. In the oxidation of chiral secondary n-alkyl alcohols a preference of the enzyme for the S(+)alcohols was found. The apparent kinetic parameters (K_m and K_max) for a range of n-alkyl alcohols depend on the length of the alcohol chain and the location of the hydroxyl function in the chain. The enzyme is stable up to a temperature of 37 °C. Above this temperature the activity is irreversibly lost. The pH optimum of the enzyme in the conversion of secondary alcohols is 7.7.     

Ferulic acid esterase from Humicola Insolens catalyzes enantioselective transesterification of secondary alcohols

Ferulic acid esterase (FAE) from Humicola insolens was found to catalyze transesterifications of secondary alcohols with high enantioselectivity. In all cases the enzyme showed R enantiopreference.     

Enzymatic resolution of 2-aryloxy-1-propanols via lipase-catalyzed enantioselective acylation using acid anhydrides as acyl donors

Pseudomonas sp. lipase-catalyzed enantioselective acylation procedure using acid anhydrides as acyl donors was exploited for the resolution of 2-aryloxy-1-propanols carrying different substituents on the benzene ring. These primary alcohols, which belong to primary alcohols with an oxygen atom at the stereocenter, were resolved generally with moderate to good enantioselectivity (E of up to 55) through the acylation with hexanoic anhydride in diisopropyl ether at 25 °C in a short reaction time. With the alcohol substrate, which gave a low enantioselectivity in the acylation at ordinary temperature, the selectivity proved to be enhanced by conducting the reaction at low temperature (−10 °C). By this acylation procedure employing the acid anhydride, enantiomerically pure (R)-2-phenoxy-1-propanol was prepared in a gram-scale reaction.     

Allylic or benzylic stabilization is essential for catalysis by bacterial benzyl alcohol dehydrogenases.

Benzyl alcohol dehydrogenase from Acinetobacter calcoaceticus (AC-BADH) and TOL plasmid-encoded benzyl alcohol dehydrogenase from Pseudomonas putida (TOL-BADH) have previously been shown to oxidize a variety of aromatic alcohols but not aliphatic substrates. Here, we have expressed the genes for AC-BADH and TOL-BADH in Escherichia coli, purified the resulting over-expressed enzymes, and shown that each is an effective catalyst of both benzylic and allylic alcohol oxidation, but not of oxidation of nonallylic analogs. Enzyme specificity (kcat/Km) for both enzymes was higher with an aliphatic, allylic alcohol (3-methyl-2-buten-1-ol) than with benzyl alcohol. These results suggest that bacterial benzyl alcohol dehydrogenases use the resonance stabilization provided by allylic and benzylic alcohols to promote catalysis.     

Very-long-chain secondary alcohols and alkanediols in cuticular waxes of Pisum sativum leaves

In cuticular waxes from leaves of Pisum sativum, 19 secondary alcohols, 10 primary/secondary alkanediols and three secondary/secondary alkanediols were identified by various chemical transformations with product assignment employing GC-MS. The homologous series of C29-C33 secondary alcohols (1.1 microg/cm2) was dominated by hentriacontanol isomers (94%). Only octacosanediols and trace amounts of hexacosanediols (< 1%) were detected in the primary/secondary alkanediol faction (0.7 microg/cm2). The secondary/secondary alkanediols (0.12 microg/cm2) contained a single homologue with chain length C31. All three compound classes showed characteristic isomer distributions with secondary functional groups predominantly located between C-14 and C-16. Based on the isomer compositions, the sequence of biosynthetic steps introducing the hydroxyl functions is discussed.     

Human alcohol dehydrogenase: dependence of secondary alcohol oxidation on the amino acids at positions 93 and 94.

The human liver alpha alpha and beta 1 beta 1 isoenzymes are straight-chain alcohol dehydrogenases with different efficiencies toward secondary alcohols. Two of the 24 amino acid substitutions in alpha alpha (A for F93 and I for T94) were made by site-directed mutagenesis of beta 1 beta 1 and the substrate specificity of beta 93A94I was examined. The Vmax/KM values of beta 93A94I for secondary alcohols (especially R enantiomers) are similar to that of alpha alpha and as much as 4000-fold greater than beta 1 beta 1, but the dependences of Vmax/KM on primary alcohol chain length are similar to beta 1 beta 1, but not alpha alpha. Thus, the substitutions of A for F93 and I for T94 in beta 1 beta 1 account for the increased efficiency towards secondary alcohols and stereoselectivity for enantiomeric alcohols, but not for the effects of chain length on the Vmax/KM for primary alcohols seen with alpha alpha.     

Effects of Temperature on Stereochemistry of Enzymatic Reactions

A brief discussion of the theoretical basis for effects of temperature on stereoselectivity of enzyme catalysed reactions is presented. In theory, the stereoselectivity of an enzymatic reaction can either increase or decrease as the reaction temperature is raised. The secondary alcohol dehydrogenase from Thermoanaerobacter ethanolicus reduces 2-butanone to (R)-2-butanol at 37° C, with increased stereoselectivity at higher temperatures and in the presence of NADP analogues. In contrast, at 37°, 2-pentanone and 2-hexanone are reduced to (S)-2-pentanol and (S)-2-hexanol, respectively, but the stereoselectivity decreases at higher temperatures and in the presence of NADP analogues. Reduction of racemic 2-methylbutanal by the primary alcohol dehydrogenase from T. ethanolicus gives (S)-2-methyl-1-butanol with greater stereospecificity at 35° (51% e.e.) than at 15° (14% e.e.). Horse liver alcohol dehydrogenase shows a preference for oxidation of the (S)-enantiomers of acyclic secondary alcohols at 25°, with a decrease in stereospecificity at higher temperatures.     

Isolation and characterization of a metagenome-derived and cold-active lipase with high stereospecificity for (R)-ibuprofen esters

We report on the isolation and biochemical characterization of a novel, cold-active and metagenome-derived lipase with a high stereo-selectivity for pharmaceutically important substrates. The respective gene was isolated from a cosmid library derived from oil contaminated soil and designated lipCE. The deduced aa sequence indicates that the protein belongs to the lipase family l.3, with high similarity to Pseudomonas fluorescens lipases containing a C-terminal secretion signal for ABC dependent transport together with possible motifs for Ca²⁺-binding sites. The overexpressed protein revealed a molecular weight of 53.2 kDa and was purified by refolding from inclusion bodies after expression in Escherichia coli. The optimum temperature of LipCE was determined to be 30 °C. However, the enzyme still displayed 28% residual activity at 0 °C and 16% at −5 °C. Calcium ions strongly increased activity and thermal stability of the protein. Further detailed biochemical characterization of the recombinant enzyme showed an optimum pH of 7 and that it retained activity in the presence of a range of metal ions and solvents. A detailed analysis of the enzyme's substrate spectrum with more than 34 different substrates indicated that the enzyme was able to hydrolyze a wide variety of substrates including the conversion of long chain fatty acid substrates with maximum activity for pNP-caprate (C₁₀). Furthermore LipCE was able to hydrolyze stereo-selectively ibuprofen-pNP ester with a high preference for the (R) enantiomer of >91% ee and it demonstrated selectivity for esters of primary alcohols, whereas esters of secondary or tertiary alcohols were nearly not converted.     

Further studies on the selective oxidation of steroidal allylic alcohols

Certain aromatic amines, when used in conjunction with pyridinium chlorochromate, have been found to selectively oxidize the allylic hydroxyl group of steroidal alcohols to the corresponding α,β-unsaturated ketones. In this respect, the amines 2,2′-bipyridine, 2,4,6-triphenyl-pyridinine, pyrazine, pyridazine and s-triazine were found to be effective in augmenting the rapid and selective oxidation of steroidal allylic alcohols. The reactions were carried out by the addition of the oxidant to a dry methylene chloride solution at 2°C containing an amine and an allylic alcohol.     

Peroxide oxidation of primary alcohols to aldehydes by chloroperoxidase catalysis

Chloroperoxidase catalyzes the peroxidation of primary alcohols, specifically those that are allylic, propargylic, or benzylic. Aldehydes are the products. The reaction dislays appreciable activity throughout the entire pH range investigated, namely pH 3.0–7.0. This enzyme is the only haloperoxidase of four tested capable of carrying out the reaction. These results further establish chloroperoxidase as a unique haloperoxidase.     

The role of hydrophobicity and electronic factors in regulating alcohol inhibition of cytochrome P-450-mediated aniline hydroxylation

The role of hydrophobicity and electronic factors in regulating alcohol inhibition of cytochrome P-450-mediated aniline p-hydroxylation has been investigated by the formulation of quantitative structure-activity relationships. The activity of linear primary alcohols and unhindered linear secondary alcohols shows a linear dependence on log P, where P is the octanol-water partition coefficient. Hindered primary and secondary alcohols are less active than this relationship predicts. An equation describing the activity of both hindered and unhindered primary and secondary alcohols shows that alcohol inhibition of aniline hydroxylation is regulated by hydrophobicity and steric effects. No role for electronic factors can be discerned. Similarities are found between alcohol inhibition and the binding of alkyl amines to cytochrome P-450, suggesting that alcohols may bind to the amine binding site.     

Production of flavor esters by lipases of Staphylococcus warneri and Staphylococcus xylosus

The present paper describes the potential of Staphylococcus warneri and Staphylococcus xylosus lipases in the production of a variety of flavor esters. Both immobilized lipases produced ethyl esters from hexanoic to oleic acids with an optimum at decanoic acid. They esterified aliphatic and branched chain primary alcohols from ethanol to hexanol. Under our standard conditions, acetic, butyric, 2-methyl butyric, 3-methyl butyric, and valeric acids underwent slight esterification.     

Fungus β-glycosidases: immobilization and use in alkyl-β-glycoside synthesis

Production of β-glycosidases: β-xylosidase and β-glucosidase by the fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum was optimized in the presence of different carbon sources. Immobilization supports with different physico-chemical characteristics were evaluated for use in continuous reactors. Immobilization and activity yields were calculated. Among the adsorption on Duolite, Amberlite, Celite and DEAE-sepharose, and entrapment in polyacrylamide gel or reticulation using glutaraldehyde, highest yields were obtained when β-xylosidase was adsorbed on Duolite A 7 and when β-glucosidase was adsorbed on DEAE-sepharose.

Enzyme preparations from S. sclerotiorum cultures were used in a biphasic (alcohol/aqueous) medium for the synthesis of alkyl-glycosides by trans-glycosylation of sugars and long-chain alcohols. The synthesis was studied under different conditions with primary and secondary alcohols as substrates, in the presence of free or immobilized enzyme. Xylan and cellobiose were used for the synthesis of alkyl-xylosides and alkyl-glucosides, respectively. The majority of the immobilized preparations were unable to catalyze the synthesis of alkyl-glycosides.

Highest yields were obtained when using xylan and C₄–C₆-alcohols. The reaction produced alkyl-β-xyloside and alkyl-β-xylobioside, as confirmed by MS/MS. Up to 22 mM iso-amyl-xyloside and 14 mM iso-amyl-xylobioside were produced from iso-amyl alcohol and xylan.     

Pseudomonas cepacia lipase-catalysed resolution of racemic alcohols in ionic liquid using succinic anhydride: role of triethylamine in enhancement of catalytic activity

Racemic secondary alcohols were resolved via enantioselective acylation using succinic anhydride as acyl donor catalysed by lipase from Pseudomonas cepacia supported on celite (PS-C) in ionic liquid, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate [bmim]PF₆. Organic base, namely triethylamine as an additive in ionic liquid has been found to enhance the rate of the reaction.     

Candida antarctica lipase B catalysed amidation of pyroglutamic acid derivatives. A reaction survey

Pyroglutamic acid esters, both (S)- and (R)-enantiomers, have been studied as substrates of the Candida antarctica lipase B catalyzed amidation in anhydrous organic solvents. They behaved as very good substrates when primary amines or ammonia were used as nucleophiles, affording the corresponding secondary and primary amides, respectively, but did not react with secondary amines. The reaction was enantioselective for the (R)-enantiomer of chiral amines although little kinetic difference was observed between (S)- and (R)-pyroglutamates as acyl donors. As an example of an infrequent reaction, free (S)-pyroglutamic acid may also act as a substrate of the reaction, but is much less reactive than its esters.