• BMB Reports
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.82-88
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• 2000

A homologous gene to alanine racemase was cloned from a hyperthermophilic bacterium, Aquifex pyrophilus. The cloned gene encodes a protein of 341 amino acids, which has a significant homology to alanine racemase of Bacillus stearothermophilus, Lactobacillus brevis, and E. coli. When the gene was expressed in Escherichia coli, it produced a 40 kDa protein. The purified protein contains one mole pyridoxal 5-phosphate per one mole of protein, which is essential for catalytic activity of alanine racemase. The purified protein catalyzed racemization of L-alanine to D-alanine, or vice versa, indicating that the cloned gene encoded alanine racemase. It also showed significant racemization activity against L-serine and ${\alpha}-aminobutylic$ acid. The A. pyrophilus alanine racemase showed strong thermostability, and it maintained catalytic activity in the presence of organic solvents.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.35 no.7
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• pp.2186-2188
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• 2014

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.695-703
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• 1999

We have studied the stereospecificities of various pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP) dependent enzymes for the hydrogen transfer between the C-4' of a bound coenzyme and the C-2 of a substrate in the transamination catalyzed by the enzymes. Stereospecificities reflect the structures of enzyme active-sites, in particular the geometrical relationship between the coenzyme-substrate Schiff base and the active site base participating in an $\alpha$-hydrogen abstraction. The PLP enzymes studied so far catalyze only a si-face specific (pro-S) hydrogen transfer. This stereochemical finding suggests that the PLP enzymes have the same topological active-site structures, and that the PLP enzymes have evolved divergently from a common ancestral protein. However, we found that o-amino acid aminotransferase, branched chain L-amino acid aminotransferase, and 4-amino-4-deoxychorismate lyase, which have significant sequence homology with one another, catalyze a re-face specific (pro-R) hydrogen transfer. We also showed that PLP-dependent amino acid racemases, which have no sequence homology with any aminotransferases, catalyze a non-stereospecific hydrogen transfer: the hydrogen transfer occurs on both faces of the planar intermediate. Crystallographical studies have shown that the catalytic base is situated on the re-face of the C-4' of the bound coenzyme in o-amino acid aminotransferase and branched chain L-amino acid aminotransferase, whereas the catalytic base is situated on the si-face in other aminotransferases (such as L-aspartate aminotransferase) catalyzing the si-face hydrogen transfer. Thus, we have clarified the stereospecificities of PLP enzymes in relation with the primary structures and three-dimensional structures of the enzymes. The characteristic stereospecificities of these enzymes for the hydrogen transfer suggest the convergent evolution of PLP enzymes.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.1720-1726
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• 2014

(S)-Alanine Racemase Chiral Analogue ((S)-ARCA) was used as an efficient adsorbent for the selective separation of D-amino acids (D-AAs), which are industrially important as chiral building blocks for the synthesis of pharmaceutical intermediates. The organic phase, containing (S)-ARCA adsorbent and phase transfer reagents, such as ionic liquid type molecules (Tetraphenylphosphonium chloride (TPPC), Octyltriphenylphosponium bromide (OTPPBr)), were coated on the surfaces of mesoporous carbon supports. For the immobilization of chiral adsorbents, meso/macroporous monolithic carbon (MMC), having bimodal pore structures with high surface areas and pore volumes, were fabricated. The separation of chiral AAs by adsorption onto the heterogeneous (S)-ARCA was performed using a continuous flow type packed bed reactor system. The effects of loading amount of ARCA on the support, the molar ratio of AA to ARCA, flow rates, and the type of phase transfer reagent (PTR) on the isolation yields and the optical purity of product D-AAs were investigated. D-AAs were selectively combined to (S)-ARCA through imine formation reaction in an aqueous basic solution of racemic D/L-AA. The (S)-ARCA coated MMC support showed a high selectivity, up to 95 ee%, for the separation of D-type phenylalanine, serine and tryptophan from racemic mixtures. The ionic liquids TPPC and OTPPBr exhibited superior properties to those of the ionic surfactant Cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB), as a PTR, showing constant optical purities of 95 ee%, with high isolation yields for five repeated reuses. The unique separation properties in this heterogeneous adsorption system should provide for an expansion of the applications of porous materials for commercial processes.