Enantioselective Oxidation of Diols by Secondary Alcohol Dehydrogenase from Geotrichum sp. WF9101

Abstract

Geotrichum sp. WF9101 could degrade (S)-(+)-1, 2-propanediol, (S)-(+)-1, 3-butanediol, and (2S, 4S)-(+)-2, 4-pentanediol, but not the corresponding enantiomers. An NAD⁺-linked secondary alcohol dehydrogenase purified from the strain showed the same enantioselective oxidations towards these diols. This enzyme is proposed to be useful for the preparation of (R)-(-)-diols from the racemates of these diols.