NOVEL RHODOCOCCUS BACTERIUM, NITRILASE GENE, NITRYL HYDRATASE GENE AND AMIDASE GENE FROM RHODOCOCCUS BACTERIUM, AND PROCESS FOR PRODUCING CARBOXYLIC ACIDS USING THEM

摘要

A novel rhodococcus and a process for producing carboxylic acids by hydrolyzing cyano group of nitrile compounds by using this bacterium. A process for producing carboxylic acids (in particular, cyanocarboxylic acids) by using transformants having been transformed by plasmids containing rhodococcus-origin nitrilase gene, nitrilehydratase gene and amidase gene showing an excellent site-selectivity to cyano group of aromatic polynitrile compounds; these transformants, plasmids, genes and a process for producing enzymes by using these transformants; and the enzymes thus obtained. The carboxylic acids (in particular, cyanocarboxylic acids) thus obtained are useful as starting materials in the synthesis of drugs, pesticides, dyes and other chemical products.