Arabidopsis thaliana: a novel biocatalyst for asymmetric reductions

Abstract

We used Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings as biocatalysts for the reduction of ketones, and investigated the factors affecting the chemical yield and enantioselectivity of the reactions. One- to four-week-old Arabidopsis seedlings were incubated for 24 h in reaction mixture containing either aromatic or aliphatic ketone as a substrate. After the reaction, the ketones and corresponding alcohols were extracted and quantified. The results indicated that Arabidopsis seedlings can be used as a biocatalyst for asymmetric reduction of ketones such as trifluoroacetophenone, t-butyl acetoacetate, methyl benzoylformate, and 2-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene. The highest chemical yields were observed in seedlings pre-incubated under light conditions and in leaves, suggesting that asymmetric ketone reduction might be related to photosynthesis. In contrast, the age and size of seedlings did not have a significant effect on chemical yield or enantioselectivity. The findings suggest that Arabidopsis, which is widely used as a model plant system, presents a new opportunity for biotransformation.