Biotechnology Letters 2005-09-01

Hydroxynitrile lyase catalysis in ionic liquid-containing systems.

Wen-Yong Lou, Ruo Xu, Min-Hua Zong

Index: Biotechnol. Lett. 27(18) , 1387-90, (2005)

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Abstract

The cleavage of mandelonitrile catalysed by hydroxynitrile lyases (HNL) from Prunus amygdalus (PaHNL) and Manihot esculenta (MeHNL) proceeded more rapidly in monophasic aqueous media containing 1-propyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate [C4MIm][BF4] than in media containing acetonitrile or THF. Both HNLs were much more thermostable in [C4MIm][BF4] than in acetonitrile or THF. The addition of each of the four ionic liquids 1-butyl-, 1-pentyl- and 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborates at 2-6% (v/v in the aqueous phase) increased both the enzyme activity and the product e.e. in the PaHNL-catalysed transcyanation in an aqueous/DIPE biphasic system. However, MeHNL was inactivated by the ionic liquids, as indicated by the decreased reaction rate, substrate conversion and product e.e.