Enantioselective hydrolysis of racemic methyl jasmonate using microorganisms and isolated enzymes

A variety of microorganisms were used to hydrolyze racemic methyl jasmonate I] with varying degrees of enantioselectivity. The fungi tested included species from the genera Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Talaromyces. All fungi tested showed a preference for the 1S,2S(Z)]-(+)-isomer. The yeasts Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Candida albicans showed no activity. A number of bacterial genera were also tested. No activity could be shown for members of the genera Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Escherichia, Nocardia, and Thermoactinomyces. Hydrolytic activity was found in the genera Streptomyces and Mycobacterium. S. henetus showed the same enantioselectivity as the fungi, while M. phlei hydrolyzed the 1R,2R(Z)]-(?)-isomer preferentially. A number of isolated enzymes were also screened for activity. Varying degrees of hydrolytic activity and enantioselectivity were found.