Improved conversion of cinnamaldehyde derivatives to diol compounds via a pyruvate decarboxylase-dependent mechanism in budding yeast.

Cinnamaldehyde is stereospecifically converted to (2S,3R) 5-phenylpent-4-ene-2,3-diol, an important starting material for the synthesis of biologically active compounds, by the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Immobilization of the yeast in calcium alginate capsules suppressed the formation of by-products and increased accumulation of the diol compounds. The mechanism of cinnamaldehyde conversion was investigated by using recombinant strains of Escherichia coli and S. cerevisiae carrying the pyruvate decarboxylase gene PDC1. As a result, condensation of the substrate with acetaldehyde was enhanced by PDC and flow to the diol product was altered.