Gordonae terrae

The preparation of malonic acid monoesters has been demonstrated using the microbial nitrilase activity of Corynebacterium nitrilophilus ATCC 21 419, Gordona terrae MA-1, or Rhodococcus rhodochrous ATCC 33 025 to hydrolyze methyl cyanoacetate, ethyl cyanoace-tate, M-propyl cyanoacetate, isopropyl cyanoacetate, M-butyl cyanoacetate, tertbutyl cyanoacetate, 2-ethylhexyl cyanoacetate, allyl cyanoacetate, and benzyl cyanoacetate [96]. By maintaining the concentration of nitrile in a reaction mixture at <5 wt%, significant inactivation of the nitrilase activity was avoided for example, a total of 25 g of M-propyl cyanoacetate was added in sequential 5g portions to a lOOmL suspension of Rhodococcus rhodochrous ATCC 33 025 cells (OD630 = 5.6) in 50 mM phosphate buffer (pH 7.0) over 30h at 25 °C to produce mono-M-propyl malonate in 100% yield (Figure 8.17). 

Based on this reaction, a method for the production of nicotinic acid using whole cells of Gordona terrae NDB 1165 (previously Rhodococcus sp. NDB 1165) is described." ... 

Hashimoto, Y., Endo, T., Tamura, K., et al. 1996. Process for producing optically active a-hydroxycarboxylic acid having phenyl group using Gordona terrae. US 5 580 765. 

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