Screening and characterization of microorganisms catalyzing (S)-selective oxidation of α,α-disubstituted propanediols

In this study, we attempted to achieve efficient synthesis of (S)-form 2-(hydroxymethyl)-2-methylbutanoic acid (HMMBA) from 2-ethyl-2-methyl-1,3-propanediol (EMPD) using an enzymatic approach. Agromyces sp. E2 was found to produce HMMBA from soil samples through enrichment culture using EMPD as a carbon source. The microbial asymmetric oxidation was characterized, and the highest activity was observed following addition of 0.2% (w/v) 2,2-diethyl-1,3-propanediol in the culture as an inducer. After 72 h of whole-cell incubation with 40 mM EMPD under optimized conditions, strain E2 completely converted EMPD to HMMBA with 39% enantiomeric excess (S). Agromyces sp. E2 exhibited high oxidative activity and moderate enantioselectivity for α,α-disubstituted 1,3-propanediols.
Source: Biocatalysis and Agricultural Biotechnology - Category: Biotechnology Source Type: research