Application of Microbes and Microbial Esterases to the Preparation of Optically Active N-Acetylindoline-2-Carboxylic Acid

Abstract

Methylotrophic bacteria, isolated from soil samples or from sewage sludge, proved to be useful sources of esterases for catalyzing the enantioselective hydrolysis of racemic N-acetyl-indoline-2-carboxylic acid methyl ester (7) to the corresponding (2S) or (2R)-N-acetyl amino acid (6) with high optical yields. From the DMF-utilizer Pseudomonas DMF 5/8 and the methanol-utilizer Isolate EE 210, the corresponding esterases were isolated. Reactions with whole cells as well as with the purified enzymes are described.