NOVEL ACETOACETYL-CoA REDUCTASE AND PROCESS FOR PRODUCING OPTICALLY ACTIVE ALCOHOL

摘要

A process for easily producing optically active alcohols which are (R)-3-hydroxypentanenitrile, an optically active 3-hydroxybutanoic ester, and an optically active 1-phenylethanol derivative; and a novel enzyme useful for the production of the optically active alcohols, in particular, (R)-3-hydroxypentanenitrile. The enzyme is a novel acetoacetyl-CoA reductase which is capable of asymmetrically reducing 3-ketopentanenitrile to produce (R)-3-hydroxypentanenitrile having an optical purity of 99% e.e. or higher. The process comprises causing the novel enzyme or a known acetoacetyl-CoA reductase to act on each of 3-ketopentanenitrile, an acetoacetic ester, and a 1-phenylethanone derivative to produce the corresponding optically active alcohols.