Patent · US Active

Nitrilases and methods for making and using them

US8034595B2 · kind B2 · utility

0Cited by
13References
4Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 8, 2007
Grant dateOct 11, 2011
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 21, 2030

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02P20/52
  • WIPO fieldBiotechnology
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

The invention provides nitrilases and methods for making and using them, and in one aspect, provides methods for producing enantiomerically pure α-substituted carboxylic acids, such as, for example, α-amino acids and α-hydroxy acids. In one aspect, methods of the invention combine an aldehyde or ketone with a cyanide and ammonia or an ammonium salt or an amine, in the presence of a nitrilase or a polypeptide having nitrilase activity, to stereoselectively hydrolyze the amino nitrile or cyanohydrin intermediate under conditions sufficient to produce the carboxylic acid.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.