Isolation and expression of a gene for a nitrilase from Acidovorax facilis 72W

US6870038B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• E.I. DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY · US

Inventors

• Sarita Chauhan · Landenberg, US
• Robert DiCosimo · Chadds Ford, US
• Robert D. Fallon · Elkton, US
• John Edward Gavagan · Wilmington, US
• Mark S. Payne · Wilmington, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 30, 2001
• Grant date: Mar 22, 2005
• Expiry date: Mar 30, 2021

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C12P13/02
• WIPO field: Biotechnology
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

Recombinant microbial strains are provided that express nitrilase enzyme and are useful as biocatalysts for the hydrolysis of nitrile-containing substrates. The recombinant cells are transformed with a foreign gene isolated from Acidovorax facilis 72W encoding a thermostable nitrilase enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of nitrile-containing substrates to carboxylic acids under mild reaction conditions. The nucleotide sequence of the nitrilase gene and the deduced amino acid sequence encoded by the nitrilase gene are provided.