Fujisawa Pharmaceutical Company, Ltd.

Ichiro Aramori

Morita Iwami

Hitoshi Kojo

Masao Fukagawa

Takao Isogai

Hiroki Ono

Yosuke Ishitani

Mana Tsumura

The present invention provides a process for producing 7-aminocephem compounds or salts thereof. 7-Aminocephem compounds are produced via microorganisms transformed with a vector containing a gene capable of converting a cephalosporin compound of the formula (II): ##STR1## to a 7-aminocephem compound of the formula (I): ##STR2##

Process for producing 7-aminocephem compound or salts thereof

A cephalosporin C acylase from Pseudomonas diminuta N-176 is characterized by its ability to catalyze the conversion of cephalosporin C, glutaryl 7-ACA, adipyl 7-ACA, succinyl 7-ACA, N-acetylcephalosporin, N-benzoylcephalosporin C and cephalothin into 7-aminocephalosporanic acid. The enzyme contains an .alpha.-subunit having a molecular weight of 26 kDA and a .beta.-subunit having a molecular weight of 58 kDa. A method for the recombinant production of the present cephalosporin C acylase in Escherichia coli is provided.

Cephalosporin C acylase

A GL-7ACA acylase having the following characteristics:

GL-7ACA acylase

A cephalosporin C acylase from Pseudomonas diminuta N-176 is disclosed as well as the recombinant production of this enzyme in E. coli. The enzyme is characterized by the ability to catalyze the conversion of cephalosporin C, gultaryl 7-ACA, apidyl 7-ACA, succinyl 7-ACA, N-acetylcephalosporin C, N-benzoylcephalosporin C, and cephalothin into 7-aminocephalosporanic acid and is composed of an .alpha.-subunit with a molecular weight of 26,000 daltons and a .beta.-subunit with a molecular weight of 58,000 daltons.

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Kyoto, Japan

Ichiro Aramori