Production of phenylalanine with immobilized cells

摘要

Phenylalanine is produced by contacting cells having transaminase activity with phenylpyruvic acid or phenylpyruvate in the presence of an amine donor. The cells may be ruptured or permeabilized to release their transaminase activity. Preferably, the cells are immobilized with a polyazetidine polymer. Preferred reaction conditions are an excess of amine donor in a ratio of at least 1.1:1 amine donor to phenylpyruvic acid or phenylpyruvate and a pH of 5-10 such as to convert at least 85% of the phenylpyruvic acid or phenylpyruvate to phenylalanine. Phenylalanine may also be produced from cinnamic acid using immobilized cells having phenylalamine ammonia lyase activity.