Verenium Corporation

Other

Csir

Basf Enzymes LLC

Bp Corporation North America Inc.

Jennifer Ann Chaplin

Dan Eric Robertson

David Paul Weiner

Mark Madden

Jay Milton Short

Mark Joseph Burk

Ellen Chi

Grace DeSantis

Aileen Milan

Darcy Madden, Legal Representative

Michael D Levin

David M Weiner

William H Greenberg

Zuolin Zhu

Brian R Morgan

Dean Brady

Neil Stockenstrom Gardiner

Christopher John Parkinson

Stephanus Francois Marais

Karen Kustedjo

Melanie Daryl Evans-Dickson

Shavani Reddy

Butana Andrew Mboniswa

Madrie Portwig

Robin Kumar Mitra

Zilin Huang

Marcy Madden, Legal Representative

Grace Desantis

Mark (deceased) Madden

Dr Dan Robertson Robertson

The invention relates to nitrilases and to nucleic acids encoding the nitrilases. In addition methods of designing new nitrilases and method of use thereof are also provided. The nitrilases have increased activity and stability at increased pH and temperature.

Nitrilases, nucleic acids encoding them and methods for making and using them

Nitrilases

The invention provides nitrilases and methods for making and using them, and in one aspect, provides methods for producing enantiomerically pure &#x3b1;-substituted carboxylic acids, such as, for example, &#x3b1;-amino acids and &#x3b1;-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.

Nitrilases and methods for making and using them

Nucleic acids encoding nitrilases

The invention provides synthetic chemical and chemoenzymatic methods of producing simvastatin and various intermediates. In one aspect, enzymes such as hydrolases, e.g., esterases, are used in the methods of the invention. 

Methods for making simvastatin and intermediates

In accordance with the present invention there are provided methods for producing enantiomerically pure &#x3b1;-substituted carboxylic acids, such as, for example, &#x3b1;-amino acids and &#x3b1;-hydroxy acids, said method comprising combining an aldehyde or ketone with a cyanide and ammonia or an anmionium salt or an amine, in the presence of a nitrilase or a polypeptide having nitrilase activity which stereoselectively hydrolyzes the amino nitrile or cyanohydrin intermediate under conditions sufficient to produce the enantiomerically pure &#x3b1;-substituted carboxylic acid, such as, for example, &#x3b1;-amino acids and &#x3b1;-hydroxy acids.

Methods for producing &#x3b1;-substituted carboxylic acids using nitrilases and strecker reagents

A process of separating a single desired stereoisomer from a racemic mixture of eight stereoisomers of a compound of formula (III), wherein Rrepresents an isopropanol group, an isopropyl group or an isopropylene group, includes the steps of: contacting the racemic mixture in a suitable organic solvent with an esterifying agent and a stereospecific enzyme which stereoselectively esterifies the &#x2014;OH group of the desired stereoisomer, for a time sufficient to convert a desired percentage of the desired stereoisomer to a compound of formula (IV), wherein Ris as defined above and Ris an alkyl or an aryl group, to give a first reaction product including the compound of formula (IV), the organic solvent, the unconverted stereoisomers of the compound of formula (III), excess esterifying agent and by-products of the reaction; and separating the compound of formula (IV) from the first reaction product. The process is of particular application for the production of (&#x2212;)-menthol

Process for preparing (-) menthol and similar compounds

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San Diego, CA, United States of America

Jennifer Ann Chaplin