Preparation of an epoxide-hydrolyzing biocatalyst: Rhodococcus ruber DSM 44540—an activity-growth study

The constitutive epoxide hydrolase activity of Rhodococcus ruber DSM 44540 strongly depends on the status of the cells and appears to be regulated by a catabolic switch: activity peaked when glucose was exhausted and peptone/yeast extract consumption started. The activity-maximum for the kinetic resolution of a 2,2- and the enantioconvergent asymmetric biohydrolysis of a 2,3-disubstituted oxirane coincided. In order to obtain a maximum yield, cells should be harvested after ca. 17 h.