D-Amino acid production by E. coli co-expressed three genes encoding hydantoin racemase, d-hydantoinase and N-carbamoyl- d-amino acid amidohydrolase

Abstract

Three genes respectively encoding d-specific hydantoinase (DHHase), N-carbamoyl- d-amino acid amidohydrolase (DCHase) and hydantoin racemase (HRase) were co-expressed in E. coli in a system designed for the efficient enzymatic production of d-amino acids via a combination of hydantoin hydrolysis and hydantoin racemization. With the use of whole cells, the d-forms of eight amino acids – d-phenylalanine, d-tyrosine, d-tryptophan, O-benzyl- d-serine, d-valine, d-norvaline, d-leucine and d-norleucine – were efficiently converted from the corresponding dl-5-monosubtituted hydantoin compounds.