Q Gao1, A L Demain. 1. Biology Department, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.
Abstract
AIMS: To improve the resting cell bioconversion of penicillin G to deacetoxycephalosporin G (DAOG) by elimination of an oxidizing intermediate which inactivates the enzyme during the reaction. METHODS AND RESULTS: Resting cells of Streptomyces clavuligerus strain NP1 were incubated with penicillin G, required co-factors and decane in the presence of catalase or superoxide dismutase, and production of DAOG was measured. Catalase stimulated the bioconversion but superoxide dismutase did not. CONCLUSIONS: Production of hydrogen peroxide during the ring expansion reaction is at least partially responsible for enzyme inactivation. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Catalase addition improves the bioconversion and will contribute to the eventual replacement of the current multi-step, expensive and environmentally-unfriendly chemical ring expansion by a biological route.
AIMS: To improve the resting cell bioconversion of penicillin G to deacetoxycephalosporin G (DAOG) by elimination of an oxidizing intermediate which inactivates the enzyme during the reaction. METHODS AND RESULTS: Resting cells of Streptomyces clavuligerus strain NP1 were incubated with penicillin G, required co-factors and decane in the presence of catalase or superoxide dismutase, and production of DAOG was measured. Catalase stimulated the bioconversion but superoxide dismutase did not. CONCLUSIONS: Production of hydrogen peroxide during the ring expansion reaction is at least partially responsible for enzyme inactivation. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Catalase addition improves the bioconversion and will contribute to the eventual replacement of the current multi-step, expensive and environmentally-unfriendly chemical ring expansion by a biological route.