The application of arylacetonitrilases from filamentous fungi to the hydrolysis of high concentrations of (R,S)-mandelonitrile (100-500 mM) was demonstrated for the first time. Escherichia coli strains expressing the corresponding genes were used as whole-cell catalysts. Nitrilases from Aspergillus niger, Neurospora crassa, Nectria haematococca, and Arthroderma benhamiae (enzymes NitAn, NitNc, NitNh, and NitAb, respectively) exhibited different degrees of enantio- and chemoselectivity (amide formation). Their enantio- and chemoselectivity was increased by increasing pH (from 8 to 9-10) and adding 4-10% (v/v) toluene as the cosolvent. NitAn and NitNc were able to convert an up to 500 mM substrate in batch mode. NitAn formed a very low amount of the by-product, amide (<1% of the total product). This enzyme produced up to >70 g/L of (R)-mandelic acid (e.e. 94.5-95.6%) in batch or fed-batch mode. Its volumetric productivities were the highest in batch mode [571 ± 32 g/(L d)] and its catalyst productivities in fed-batch mode (39.9 ± 2.5 g/g of dcw). NitAb hydrolyzed both enantiomers of 100 mM (R,S)-mandelonitrile at pH 5.0 and is therefore promising for the enantioretentive transformation of (S)-mandelonitrile. Sequence analysis suggested that fungal arylacetonitrilases with similar properties (enantioselectivity, chemoselectivity) were clustered together.

Laboratory of Biotransformation Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic Vídeňská 1083 142 20 Prague Czech Republic

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