PROCESS FOR PRODUCING VITAMIN C

摘要

The present invention relates to a process for the production of vitamin C from L sorbosone using an aldehyde dehydrogenase which is isolated from Gluconobacter oxydans DSM 4025 (FERM BP-3812), said enzyme having the following physicochemical properties: (a) molecular weight of 150,000 ± 6,000 Da or 230,000 ± 9,000 Da (consisting of 2 or 3 homologous subunits , each subunit having a molecular weight of 75,000 ± 3,000 Da ); (b) substrate specificity as active on aldehyde compounds; (c) Cofactors are pyrroloquinoline quinone and heme c; (d) Optimum pH between 6.4 and 8.2 for vitamin C production from L-sorbosone; and (e) as inhibitors Co<2+>, Cu<2+>, Fe<2+>, Ni<2+>, Zn<2+>, monoiodoacetate and ethylendiamine tetraacetic acid. The process is performed in the presence of a suitable electron acceptor and the vitamin C isolated from the reaction mixture.