A new ( R)-hydroxynitrile lyase from Prunus mume: asymmetric synthesis of cyanohydrins

Abstract

A new hydroxynitrile lyase (HNL) was isolated from the seed of Japanese apricot ( Prunus mume). The enzyme has similar properties with HNL isolated from other Prunus species and is FAD containing enzyme. It accepts a large number of unnatural substrates (benzaldehyde and its variant) for the addition of HCN to produce the corresponding cyanohydrins in excellent optical and chemical yields. A new HPLC based enantioselective assay technique was developed for the enzyme, which promotes the addition of KCN to benzaldehyde in a buffered solution (pH=4.5).