Steven J Van

US Patent:

7364882, Apr 29, 2008

Filed:

Sep 26, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/235933

Inventors:

Steven G. Van Lanen - Madison WI, US

Assignee:

State of Oregon Acting by and Through the State Board of Higher Education on Behalf of Portland State University - Portland OR
Scripps Research Institute - La Jolla CA

International Classification:

C12P 13/00
C12P 21/06
C12N 9/00
C12N 1/21

US Classification:

435128, 435 691, 435189, 435471, 4352523

Abstract:

A new class of enzymes that catalyze the conversion of a nitrile containing compound to the corresponding amine (such as a primary amine) are disclosed. Such enzymes are referred to herein as nitrile oxido-reductases. Methods of using the enzymes to reduce a nitrile to a amine, for example in vitro or in vivo, are provided. Such methods provide the first biocatalysis method for reducing nitrites to amines, and provides an alternative to currently used methods, which generally utilize harsh reaction conditions and the production of hazardous waste. While the hydrolysis of nitrites to amides and carboxylic acids via biocatalysis has found extensive use in industry, the lack of a known nitrile oxido-reductase has precluded the application of biocatalysis to nitrile reduction.