Enzymatic synthesis of γ-glutamylmethylamide from glutamic acid γ-methyl ester and methylamine catalyzed by Escherichia coli having γ-glutamyltranspeptidase activity.

Abstract

A new method for the synthesis of γ-glutamylmethylamide is presented. Glutamic acid γ-methyl ester was used as substrate for γ-glutamylmethylamide synthesis catalyzed by Escherichia coli with γ-glutamyltranspeptidase activity. Reaction conditions were optimized by using 300mM glutamic acid γ-methyl ester and 3,000mM methylamine at pH 10 and 40°C. Bioconversion rate of γ-glutamylmethylamide reached 87% after 10h. γ-Glutamyltranspeptidase was reversibly inhibited only when glutamic acid γ-methyl ester was above 300mM.