Significantly improved esterase activity of Trichosporon brassicae cells for ketoprofen resolution by 2-propanol treatment

The kinetic resolution of racemic ketoprofen was carried out by enantioselective hydrolysis of ketoprofen ethyl ester using intact cells of Trichosporon brassicae CGMCC0574 as a biocatalyst. After the yeast cells were pretreated by 2 vol.% of 2-propanol for 10 h, the esterase activity on the (S)-ketoprofen ester increased dramatically, by a factor of ca. 310% without reducing the enantioselectivity of enzymatic resolution.