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Chemical modification of lipases with various hydrophobic groups improves their enantioselectivity in hydrolytic reactions

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Abstract

Semi-purified lipases from Candida rugosa, Pseudomonas cepacia and Alcaligenes sp. were chemically modified with a wide range of hydrophobic groups such as benzyloxycarbonyl, p-nitrobenzyloxycarbonyl, p-methoxybenzyloxycarbonyl, t-butoxycarbonyl, lauroyl and acetyl moieties. The Candida rugosa lipase MY modified with the benzyloxycarbonyl group (modification ratio = 84%) brought about a 15-fold increase in enantioselectivity (E value) towards the hydrolysis of racemic butyl 2-(4-ethylphenoxy)propionate in an aqueous buffer solution, although the enzymatic activity was decreased. The origin of the enantioselectivity enhancement by chemical modification of the lipase is attributed to a significant deceleration in the initial reaction rate for the incorrectly binding enantiomer.

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Correspondence to Shin-ichi Ueji.

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Ueji, Si., Ueda, A., Tanaka, H. et al. Chemical modification of lipases with various hydrophobic groups improves their enantioselectivity in hydrolytic reactions. Biotechnology Letters 25, 83–87 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1021761508338

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1021761508338

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