High-yield continuous production of nicotinic acid via nitrile hydratase–amidase cascade reactions using cascade CSMRs

• Published in: Enzyme and microbial technology 2011-04, Vol.48 (4), p.345-350
• Main Authors: Cantarella, L., Gallifuoco, A., Malandra, A., Martínková, L., Spera, A., Cantarella, M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 3-Cyanopyridine bioconversion; Actinomycetales - enzymology; Amidohydrolases - metabolism; Biological and medical sciences; Bioreactors; Biotechnology; Biotechnology - methods; biotransformation; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Culture Media; enzymes; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Hot Temperature; Hydro-Lyases - metabolism; Kinetics; Microbacterium imperiale; niacin; Niacin - biosynthesis; Nicotinic acid; Nitrile hydratase–amidase cascade system; Pyridines - metabolism; Series arranged continuous stirred membrane reactor; Temperature; yields
• ISSN: 0141-0229; 1879-0909
• DOI: 10.1016/j.enzmictec.2010.12.010

High yields of nicotinic acid from 3-cyanopyridine bioconversion were obtained by exploiting the in situ nitrile hydratase–amidase enzymatic cascade system of Microbacterium imperiale CBS 498-74. Experiments were carried out in continuously stirred tank UF-membrane bioreactors (CSMRs) arranged in series. This reactor configuration enables both enzymes, involved in the cascade reaction, to work with optimized kinetics, without any purification, exploiting their differing temperature dependences. To this end, the first CSMR, optimized for the properties of the NHase, was operated (i) at low temperature (5 °C), limiting inactivation of the more fragile enzyme, nitrile hydratase, (ii) with a high residence time (24 h) to overcome reaction rate limitation. The second CSMR, optimized for the properties of the AMase, was operated (i) at a higher temperature (50 °C), (ii) with a lower residence time (6 h), and (iii) with a lower substrate (3-cyanopyridine) concentration to control excess substrate inhibition. The appropriate choice of operational conditions enabled total conversion of 3-cyanpyridine (up to 200 mM) into nicotinic acid to be achieved at steady-state and for long periods. Higher substrate concentrations required two CSMRs optimized for the properties of the NHase arranged in series to drive the first reaction to completion.