Enzymatic synthesis of cephalexin

By utilizillg whole cell enzyme of the Xantho-monas citri IFO 3835, cephalexin is synthesized directly from 7-amino-deacetoxy cephalosporanic acid (7-ADCA) and phenyl glycine methyl ester (PGM). To date, cephalexin has been manufactu-red by chemical process involving fairly large number of steps to protect the amino group of phenly glycine and carboxyl group of 7-ADCA. However, the enzymatic process involves only a single step with 85％ conversion in 90 minutes. The fermentation variables studied indicate that oxygen transfer is limiting step in the enzyme production. Optimum conditions for enzymatic reaction were 37 C, pH 6.0, and the optimum substrate molar ratio of PGM to 7-ADCA was 2. Other variables that are related to the biochemical properties of whole cell enzyme temperature stability, pH stability, kinetic constants, reusing effect, enzyme loading effect were also evaluated.