D-PANTOLACTONE HYDROLASE AND GENE ENCODING THE SAME

摘要

A novel enzyme which is useful in the optical resolution of D,L-pantolactone via D-selective asymmetric hydrolysis and a gene encoding the same. The invention discloses a gene encoding a natural D-pantolactone hydrolase (for example, one originating in Fusarium oxysporum) or a protein having substantially the same activity as the same, host cells transformed by a DNA containing a base sequence encoding the above-mentioned protein; a process for producing the protein with the use of the host cells, and uses of the protein and the host cells.