Enhancement of enzyme activity and enantioselectivity via cultivation in nitrile metabolism by Rhodococcus sp. CGMCC 0497

Racemic 2-phenylpropionitrile was resolved enantioselectively by nitrile-converting enzymes in cells of Rhodococcus sp. CGMCC 0497 to S-(+)-2-phenylpropionic acid and R-(-)-2-phenylpropionamide. By optimization of the culture conditions, great enhancement of enzyme activity and enantioselectivity was achieved. Furthermore, the relationship between cell-growth periodicity and enzyme accumulation was studied; the addition of inducer was delayed by 1 day and the reaction was further improved. This unusual strategy has almost never been reported with other nitrile-converting strains. The resulting culture broth, containing methacrylamide as the inducer, beef extract as the nitrogen source and glucose as the carbon source, with methacrylamide added 24 h later, seemed to be most suitable. S -(+)-2-Phenylpropionic acid and R-(-)-2-phenylpropionamide were produced with yields of 48% (enantiomeric excess, 96%) and 42% (enantiomeric excess, 97%) respectively with no nitrile left after 3 h, or with yields of 52% and 39% (enantiomeric excess, 93% and 99%) respectively after 6 h.