Biotransformation of aromatic aldehydes bySaccharomyces cerevisiae: Investigation of reaction rates

Summary

The rate of production ofl-phenylacetyl carbinol bySaccharomyces cerevisiae in reaction mixtures containing benzaldehyde with sucrose or pyruvate as cosubstrate was investigated in short 1 h incubations. The effect of yeast dose rate, sucrose and benzaldehyde concentration and pH on the rate of reaction was determined. Maximum biotransformation rates were obtained with concentrations of benzaldehyde, sucrose and yeast of 6 g, 40 g and 60 g/l, respectively. Negligible biotransformation rates were observed at a concentration of 8 g/l benzaldehyde. The reaction had a pH optimum of 4.0–4.5. Rates of bioconversion of benzaldehyde and selected substituted aromatic aldehydes using both sucrose and sodium pyruvate as cosubstrate were compared. The rate of aromatic alcohol production was much higher when sucrose was used rather than pyruvate.o-Tolualdehyde and 1-chlorobenzaldehyde were poor substrates for aromatic carbinol formation although the latter produced significant aromatic alcohol in sucrose-containing media. Yields of 2.74 and 3.80 g/l phenylacetyl carbinol were produced from sucrose and pyruvate, respectively, in a 1 h reaction period.