Enantioselective hydrolysis of epichlorohydrin using whole Aspergillus niger ZJB-09173 cells in organic solvents

J Biosci. 2012 Sep;37(4):695-702. doi: 10.1007/s12038-012-9243-1.

Abstract

The enantioselective hydrolysis of racemic epichlorohydrin for the production of enantiopure (S)-epichlorohydrin using whole cells of Aspergillus niger ZJB-09173 in organic solvents was investigated. Cyclohexane was used as the reaction medium based on the excellent enantioselectivity of epoxide hydrolase from A. niger ZJB- 09173 in cyclohexane. However, cyclohexane had a negative effect on the stability of epoxide hydrolase from A. niger ZJB-09173. In the cyclohexane medium, substrate inhibition, rather than product inhibition of catalysis, was observed in the hydrolysis of racemic epichlorohydrin using A. niger ZJB-09173. The racemic epichlorohydrin concentration was markedly increased by continuous feeding of substrate without significant decline of the yield. Ultimately, 18.5% of (S)-epichlorohydrin with 98 percent enantiomeric excess from 153.6 mM of racemic epichlorohydrin was obtained by the dry cells of A. niger ZJB-09173, which was the highest substrate concentration in the production of enantiopure (S)-epichlorohydrin by epoxide hydrolases using an organic solvent medium among the known reports.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aspergillus niger / enzymology
  • Aspergillus niger / metabolism*
  • Cyclohexanes / chemistry
  • Epichlorohydrin / chemistry
  • Epichlorohydrin / metabolism*
  • Epoxide Hydrolases / metabolism
  • Hydrolysis
  • Kinetics
  • Solvents
  • Stereoisomerism

Substances

  • Cyclohexanes
  • Solvents
  • Epichlorohydrin
  • Cyclohexane
  • Epoxide Hydrolases