Process for the production of D-alpha-amino acids

摘要

A process is described for the production of D- alpha -amino acids by the stereospecific conversion of racemic mixtures of 5-substituted hydantoins, where said conversion is carried out in the presence of a microorganism transformed with a plasmid capable of expressing at high levels and without inducers an enzymatic system capable of converting said hydandoins in the corresponding D- alpha -amino acids. A plasmid is also described comprising the genes which encode said enzymatic system and a microorganism selected from Escherichia coli or Bacillus subtilis transformed with said plasmid. D- alpha -amino acids are intermediates useful in the preparation of pharmacologically active substances, pesticides and sweeteners.