Some Aspects of Microbial Hydrolysis of Menthyl Acetates

Abstract

Stereospecificities of microorganisms towards the steric isomers of menthyl acetate and the effect of emulsification of substrates on the rates of hydrolysis were examined. The cells of Rhodotorula mucilaginosa and Hansenula anomala, which had the highest specificity, were ruptured by ultrasonic treatment, and the specificity of the cell-free extracts were compared with that of intact cells. No difference in stereospecificity was observed, and this result indicates that the differences in the specificities of microorganisms correspond directly with the differences in each ester hydrolase.