Endophytic biocatalysts with enoate reductase activity isolated from Mentha pulegium

• Published in: World journal of microbiology & biotechnology 2018-04, Vol.34 (4), p.50-10, Article 50
• Main Authors: Marconi, Facundo, Umpiérrez, María Laura, Gonzalez, David, Giordano, Sonia Rodríguez, Rodriguez, Paula
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied Microbiology; Bacillus; Bacillus - enzymology; Bacillus - isolation & purification; Bacillus - metabolism; Bacteria; Bacteria - enzymology; Bacteria - isolation & purification; Bacteria - metabolism; Biocatalysts; Biochemistry; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biotechnology; Biotransformation; Carvone; Dihydrocarvone; Endophytes; Endophytes - enzymology; Endophytes - genetics; Endophytes - isolation & purification; Endophytes - metabolism; Environmental Engineering/Biotechnology; Hedeoma; Kinetics; Life Sciences; Mentha pulegium; Mentha pulegium - microbiology; Microbiology; Monoterpenes - chemistry; Monoterpenes - metabolism; Original Paper; Oxidation-Reduction; Oxidoreductases - metabolism; Phylogeny; Plant Leaves - metabolism; Plant Leaves - microbiology; Plant tissues; Pseudomonas - enzymology; Pseudomonas - isolation & purification; Pseudomonas - metabolism; Reductase; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S - genetics; Substrates
• ISSN: 0959-3993; 1573-0972
• DOI: 10.1007/s11274-018-2434-7

The biotransformation of (4 R )-(−)-carvone by Mentha pulegium (pennyroyal) leaves and its endophytic bacteria was performed in order to search for novel biocatalysts with enoate reductase activity. The obtained results clearly indicated that endophytes play an important role in the biotransformation of (4 R )-(−)-carvone with pennyroyal plant tissues. The best activity was associated to the endophytic bacteria Pseudomonas proteolytica FM18Mci1 and Bacillus sp. FM18civ1. Enoate reductase activity for the reduction of (4 R )-(−)-carvone and (4 S )-(+)-carvone as model substrates was evaluated for each strain. Finally, both isolated strains were evaluated for the kinetic resolution of racemic carvone. The two bacteria gave (1 R , 4 R ) or (1 R , 4 S )-dihydrocarvone as major products. P. proteolytica FM18Mci1 had preference for the 4 S -(−)-carvone, reaching a conversion 95% in 24 h. In contrast, Bacillus sp. FM18civ1 had preference for (4 R )-(−)-carvone. The results obtained in the kinetic resolution of carvone indicated that the Bacillus strain could be useful for resolving a racemic mixture of carvone. Graphical Abstract