Nitrilases and nitrile hydratases

Nitrile manipulating biocatalysts include nitrile hydratases (NHases) and nitrilases. NHases are a class of metalloenzyme that can be used for the mild hydrolysis of nitriles to give the primary amide as the direct biotransformation product. If the substrate is a racemic compound, then like many other enzymes, NHases can effect bioresolution, often with high stereoselectivity.

In contrast, nitrilases hydrolyse nitriles directly to the carboxylic acid, and if the substrate is racemic they can also perform a bioresolution. Given the harsh conditions of acid, base or high temperatures that are often required to perform such a reaction chemically, a major benefit of nitrilases is their ability to perform nitrile hydrolysis in neutral buffer solutions at ambient temperature.

• NHases stereo- and regioselectively hydrolyse nitriles to amides.
• NHases can be used in conjunction with amidases to produce chiral carboxylic acids.
• Nitrilases can produce chiral carboxylic acids from nitriles in a single step.
• Very mild hydrolysis conditions.
• Can be used in the presence of esters.
• These enzymes exhibit a very broad substrate range.

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