Merck + Co., Inc.

Gist-brocades B.v.

University of Virginia Patent Foundation

Michael J Conder

John A Rambosek

Phyllis C McAda

Christopher D Reeves

Victor A Vinci

Charles Ray Davis

Lee E Hendrickson

Robert W Stieber

John L Gainer

Steven J Cianciosi

Gregory L Tewalt

Rebecca L Dabora

Eric T Pisk

Giorgio Carta

William H Cover

Bogdan Tehlewitz

W Scott Borneman

Timothy W Weber

Anil Goyal

Bioprocesses are disclosed for the production of compounds which can be produced from a dipeptide intermediate. The process comprises production of a recombinant polypeptide which contains the dipeptide intermediate. The dipeptide intermediate is further processed to ultimately provide the finished product.

Bioprocess for production of dipeptide based compounds

DNA encoding triol polyketide synthase (TPKS) has been isolated, purified and sequenced. Expression vectors comprising TPKS, cells transformed with the expression vectors, and processes employing the transformed cells are provided.

DNA encoding triol polyketide synthase

A bioprocess for preparing adipoyl-7-ACA comprising the steps: (a) transforming cells of a strain of Penicillium chrysogenum which produces isopenicillin N with an expression vector containing DNA encoding an enzyme, having expandase activity capable of accepting adipoyl 6-APA as a substrate, an enzyme having hydroxylase activity capable of accepting adipoyl-7-ADCA as a substrate and an enzyme having acetyl transferase activity capable of accepting adipoyl 7-ADAC as a substrate; (b) culturing the transformed cells from step a) in a suitable culture medium containing an adipate feedstock, wherein said cells produce adipoyl 6-APA; and (c) culturing the transformed cells producing adipoyl 6-APA of step b) under conditions suitable for expression of said DNA encoding enzyme, thereby producing the end product adipoyl-7-ACA.

Bioprocesses for preparing 7-ACA and 7-ADAC

A process for making 7-aminodeacetyl-cephalosporanic acid (7-ADAC).

Important intermediates for preparing cephalosporin antibiotics, 7-amino-cephalosporanic acid (7-ACA) and 7-aminodeacetylcephalosporanic acid (7-ADAC), are prepared by a novel bioprocess in which a transformed Penicillium chrysogenum strain is cultured in the presence of an adipate feedstock to produce adipoyl-6-APA (6-amino penicillanic acid); followed by the in situ expression of the following genes with which the P. chrysogenum has been transformed: 1) an expandase gene, whose expression product converts the adipoyl-6-APA by ring expansion to adipoyl-7-ADCA; 2) an hydroxylase gene whose expression product converts the 3-methyl side chain of adipoyl-7-ADCA to 3-hydroxymethyl, to give the first product, 7-aminodeacetylcephalosporanic acid (7-ADAC); and 3) an acetyltransferase gene whose expression product converts the 3-hydroxymethyl side chain to the 3-acetyloxymethyl side chain of 7-ACA. The final product, 7-ACA, is then prepared by cleavage of the adipoyl side chain using an adipoyl acylase. The entire synthesis, accordingly, is carried out using bioprocesses, and is efficient and economical.

Recombinant bioprocess for the preparation of 7-amino cephalosporanic

Important intermediates for preparing cephalosporin antibiotics, 7-amino-cephalosporanic acid (7-ACA) and 7-aminodeacetylcephalosporanic acid (7-ADAC), are prepared by a novel bioprocess in which a transformed Penicillium chrysogenum strain is cultured in the presence of an adipate feedstock to produce adipoyl-6-APA (6-amino penicillanic acid); followed by the in situ expression of the following genes with which the P. chrysogenum has been transformed:

Bioprocess for preparing 7-ACA and 7-ADAC

An immobilized lipase is employed in an organic solvent to esterify diol lactone derivatives of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors to form HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors of formula (I). ##STR1## This process allows for the efficient, one-step production of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors of structural formula (I).

Process for synthesis of acylated HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors from a

An important intermediate for preparing cephalosporin antibiotics, 7-aminodesacetoxy cephalosporanic acid (7-ADCA), is prepared by a novel bioprocess in which a transformed Penicillium chrysogenum strain is cultured in the presence of an adipate feedstock to produce adipoyl-6-APA (6-amino penicillanic acid); and the in situ expression of an expandase gene, e.g., from Streptomyces clavuligerus, with which the P. chrysogenum has been transformed, converts the adipoly-6-APA by ring expansion to adipoyl-7-ADCA. The final product, 7-ADCA, is then prepared by cleavage of the adipoyl side chain using an adipoyl acylase. The entire synthesis, accordingly, is carried out using bioprocesses, and is efficient and economical.

Recombinant expandase bioprocess for preparing 7-aminodesacetoxy

Biosynthetic production of 7-[1',2',6',-7',8',8a'(R)-hexahydro-2'(S),6'(R)-dimethyl-8'(S)-hydroxy-1'( S)-naphthyl]-3(R),5(R)-dihydroxyheptanoic acid, 'triol acid', is accomplished by enzymatic hydrolysis of lovastatin acid or a salt thereof, by treating it with Clonostachys compactiuscula ATCC 38009 or ATCC 74178, or mutants thereof, or a cell-free extract derived therefrom, or a hydrolase derived therefrom. The triol acid and its lactone form are both inhibitors of HMG-CoA reductase and thus useful as anti-hypercholesterolemic agents, and may also serve as intermediates for preparation of other HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors. Also, in the synthesis of simvastatin by direct methylation of lovastatin, selective hydrolysis of residual lovastatin salt by treatment with Clonostachys compactiuscula ATCC 38009 or ATCC 74178 or mutants thereof or a cell-free extract derived therefrom, or a hydrolase derived therefrom yields the 'triol' salt which can be easily separated from simvastatin.

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Harrisonburg, VA, United States of America

Michael J Conder