Process for demethylating S-methyl-mercapto compounds
US5814496A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 8, 1997 |
| Grant date | Sep 29, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 8, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
- CPC primaryC12P13/04
- WIPO fieldBiotechnology
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
The invention concerns a process for preparing mercapto compounds comprising the step of demethylating an S-methyl-mercapto compound of Formula I to the corresponding mercapto compound of Formula II, using a microorganism which is capable of demethylating S-methyl-3-mercapto-propionate (MMPA) to 3-mercaptopropionate (MPA) or using an enzyme preparation derivable from such microorganism. ##STR1## Preferably the group R denotes CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --COOH (I is MMPA), CH.sub.2 --CH(NH.sub.2)--COOH (I is S-methyl-cystein), CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --CH(NH.sub.2)--COOH (I is methionine) and CH.sub.2 --COOH (I is methylmercapto-acetate) or a salt or ester of any of these. Preferably the microorganisms are methanogenic archaea of the genus Methanosarcina or obtained by inocculating a suitable medium containing MMPA with salt marsh or marine sediment followed by one or more transfers into fresh medium containing MMPA and suppression of the growth of Bacteria, but not of Archaea in the culture e.g. with an antibiotic.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.