Biotransformation Of Benzaldehyde Into (R)-Phenylacetylcarbinol By Hansenulla Polymorpha And Brettanomyces Lambicus Or Their Cell Free Extracts

Abstract Extracts of 7 yeast were examined regarding their potential for production of (R)-phenylacetylcarbinol [(R)-PAC], which is the chiral precursor in the manufacture of the pharmaceuticals ephedrine and pseudoephedrine. Benzaldehyde and pyruvate were transformed at a scale of 1.2 ml into PAC by cell-free extracts of all selected strains, covering the broad taxonomic spectrum of Zygomycota and Basidiomycota. Highest final PAC concentrations were obtained with the extracts of Hansenulla polymorpha and B.lambicus. [78–84 mM (11.7–12.6 g/l) PAC within 20 h from initial substrate concentrations of 100 mM benzaldehyde and 150 mM pyruvate]. (R)-PAC was in about90–93% enantiomeric excess. Hansenulla polymorpha had the advantage of faster growth than B.lambicus. Hansenulla polymorpha were used as an example in a biotransformation process based on whole cells and benzaldehyde and glucose as substrates. The substrate pyruvate was generated through the fungal fermentation of glucose. Only 19 mM PAC (2.9 g/l) was produced within8 h from 80 mM benzaldehyde, with evidence of significant benzyl alcohol production. Key words: Hansenulla polymorpha, B.lambicus, (R)-phenylacetylcarbinol, benzaldehyde. http://www.ijbst.org/Home/papers-published/ijbst-2009-volume-2-issue-8