PROCESS FOR PRODUCING OPTICALLY ACTIVE 4-HYDROXY-2- KETOGLUTARIC ACIDS

摘要

The object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing an optically active 4-hydroxy-2-ketoglutaric acid which is industrially applicable and advantageous. The present invention provides a process for producing an optically active 4-hydroxy-2-ketoglutaric acid, which comprises allowing glyoxylic acid and pyruvic acid to coexist with a biocatalyst which has an activity of forming the optically active 4-hydroxy-2-ketoglutaric acid from pyruvic acid and glyoxylic acid in an aqueous medium to convert glyoxylic acid into the optically active 4-hydroxy-2-ketoglutaric acid and recovering the optically active 4-hydroxy-2-ketoglutaric acid from the aqueous medium.