Screening of microorganisms producing esterase for the production of (R)-β-acetylmercaptoisobutyric acid from methyl (R,S)-β-acetylmercaptoisobutyrate

Abstract

(R)-β-acetylmercaptoisobutyric acid (RAM), a chiral compound, is an important intermediate for the chemical synthesis of various antihypertensive and congestive heart failure drugs. Microorganisms capable of converting (R,S)-β-acetylmercaptoisobutyric acid ((R,S)-ester) to RAM were screened from soil microorganisms. A strain of Pseudomonas sp. 1001 screened from a soil sample was selected to be the best. Cells showed an activity of 540 U/mL from culture broth and the enzyme was thermostable up to 70°C. This strain could produce RAM asymmetrically from (R,S)-ester.