Method for producing chiral 2-hydroxy-4-(methylthio)butanamide by nitrile hydratase-catalysed hydrolysis of the corresponding chiral 2-hydroxy-4- (methylthio)-butanenitrile

摘要

Enzyme-catalyzed preparation of D- and/or L-2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutyramide (I) comprises (a) reacting D- and/or L-2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutyronitrile (II) with an enzyme from Rhodococcus opacusthat has nitrile hydratase activity, in aqueous medium of pH 6-6.7 and (b) optionally separating (I). (E) contains subunits with amino acid sequences that are at least 90% identical with Seq. (1) of 235 amino acids and Seq. (2) of 205 amino acids, both reproduced.