Characterization of benzaldehyde lyase from Pseudomonas fluorescens: A versatile enzyme for asymmetric C–C bond formation

• Published in: Bioorganic chemistry 2006-12, Vol.34 (6), p.345-361
• Main Authors: Janzen, Elena, Müller, Michael, Kolter-Jung, Doris, Kneen, Malea M., McLeish, Michael J., Pohl, Martina
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 2-Hydroxy ketones; Aldehyde-Lyases - chemistry; Aldehyde-Lyases - genetics; Aldehyde-Lyases - metabolism; Benzoin; Benzoylformate decarboxylase; Biocatalysis; Buffers; Catalysis; Cloning, Molecular; Enzyme Stability; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Kinetics; Mutation; Pseudomonas fluorescens; Pseudomonas fluorescens - enzymology; Solvents; Stability investigation; Temperature; Thiamin diphosphate
• ISSN: 0045-2068; 1090-2120
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2006.09.002

Benzaldehyde lyase (BAL) is a very useful biocatalyst to access chiral 2-hydroxyketones from aldehydes. Various biochemical data important for the application of BAL in chemoenzymatic synthesis are presented. The thiamin-diphosphate-dependent enzyme benzaldehyde lyase is a very import catalyst for chemoenzymatic synthesis catalyzing the formation and cleavage of ( R)-hydroxy ketones. We have studied the stability of the recombinant enzyme and some enzyme variants with respect to pH, temperature, buffer salt, cofactors and organic cosolvents. Stability of BAL in chemoenzymatic synthesis requires the addition of cofactors to the buffer. Reaction temperature should not exceed 37 °C. The enzyme is stable between pH 6 and 8, with pH 8 being the pH-optimum of both the lyase and the ligase reaction. Potassium phosphate and Tris were identified as optimal reaction buffers and the addition of 20 vol% DMSO is useful to enhance both the solubility of aromatic substrates and products and the stability of BAL. The initial broad product range of BAL-catalyzed reactions has been enlarged to include highly substituted hydroxybutyrophenones and aliphatic acyloins.