Gary J Carlton

US Patent:

47104678, Dec 1, 1987

Filed:

Aug 14, 1984

Appl. No.:

6/640778

Inventors:

Louis L. Wood - Rockville MD
Gary J. Carlton - Elkridge MD

Assignee:

Purification Engineering, Inc. - Columbia MD

International Classification:

C12P 1322
C12N 1108
C12N 1104

US Classification:

435108

Abstract:

Phenylalanine is prepared by contacting phenylpyruvic acid or phenylpyruvate with an enzyme having transaminase activity in the presence of an amine donor. The enyzme may be free or immobilized or in whole cells which may be free or immobilized. The enzyme is preferably contained by E. coli ATCC 11303. Yield of phenylalanine can be improved by removing oxaloacetate, produced during reaction of the enzyme, to drive the reaction to completion. Phenylalanine may also be produced from cinnamic acid using immobilized cells having phenylalanine ammonia lyase activity.