Asymmetric synthesis of nonproteinogenic amino acids with l-amino acid transaminase: synthesis of (2 S)-2-amino-4-oxo-4-phenylbutyric and (3 E,2 S)-2-amino-4-phenylbutenoic acids

Abstract

2,4-Dioxo-4-phenylbutyric acid and 2-oxo-4-phenylbut-3-enoic acid are converted to the corresponding ( S)-2-amino acids by recombinant Escherichia coli whole cells over-expressing aromatic transaminase from Enterobacter sp. BK2K-1 (AroAT Es) in high yields (68–78%) and high enantiomeric purity (>99%) using l-aspartic acid as an amino donor.