Method for producing L-amino acid

• US 4,016,037 A
• Filed: 10/15/1975
• Issued: 04/05/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ajinomoto Co., Inc.
• Original Assignee: Ajinomoto Co., Inc.
• Inventors: Yamada, Kazuhiko, Yasuda, Naohiko, Tamura, Fumihide, Sano, Konosuke, Noda, Ichiro, Mitsugi, Koji, Togo, Kazushi, Yokozeki, Kenzo, Eguchi, Chikahiko, Kagawa, Teruhiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Tanenholtz, Alvin E.
• Application Number:
  US05/622,519
• Time in Patent Office: 538 Days
• Field of Search: 195/29
• US Class Current: 435/108
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 9/86 acting on amide bonds in cyclic amides, e.g. penicillinase (3.5.2)
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 13/04 Alpha- or beta- amino acids other amino acids C12P13/005
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 435/85 Flavobacterium

Abstract

L-amino acids are produced by fermenting a hydantoin compound with Flavobacterium aminogenes or its enzymes.

Claims

1. A method for producing an L-amino acid of the formula:

##STR3## which comprises;

a. holding a hydantoin compound of the formula;

##STR4## at pH 5 to 11 in an aqueous solution at 15°

to 70°

C in the presence of an effective amount of enzyme produced by Flavobacterium aminogenes until the L-amino acid accumulates in the solution;

said enzyme being capable of converting said hydantoin compound to said L-amino acid, and in said formula, R being phenyl or substituted phenyl radicals or indolyl or substituted indolyl radicals; and

b. recovering the L-amino acid formed from said aqueous solution.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said hydantoin compound is 5-benzylhydantoin.

3. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said hydantoin compound is 5-indolylmethyl-hydantoin.

4. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said hydantoin compound is 5-(3'"'"',4'"'"'-dihydroxybenzyl)-hydantoin.

5. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said hydantoin compound is 5-(3'"'"'(4'"'"')- methoxy - 4'"'"'(3'"'"')-hydroxybenzyl)-hydantoin.

6. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said hydantoin compound is 5-(3'"'"',4'"'"'-methylenedioxybenzyl)-hydantoin.

7. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said hydantoin compound is 5-(3'"'"',4'"'"'-isopropylidene dioxybenzyl)-hydantoin.

8. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said hydantoin compound is 5-(5'"'"'-hydroxy-indolylmethyl)-hydantoin.

9. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said enzyme is produced by a mutant of Flavobacterium aminogenes which mutant is incapable of growing in a medium containing L-tryptophan as a sole nitrogen source.

10. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said enzyme is produced by Flavobacterium aminogenes FERM - P 3133, 3134, or 3135.

11. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said enzyme is produced by culturing Flavobacterium aminogenes in an aqueous culture medium containing said hydantoin compound.

12. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said aqueous solution contains hydroxylamine hydrochloride, phenylhydrozine hydrochloride, sodium cyanide, semicarbazide hydrochloride, potassium ferricyanide, D-cycloserine, sodium azide or phenol.

13. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein intact cells of Flavobacterium aminogenes, homogenates of said cells, sonicates of said cells, or freeze-dried cells of said Flavobacterium aminogenes are used as the enzyme source.

14. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said hydantoin compound is 5-(3'"'"',4'"'"'-dimethoxybenzyl)-hydantoin.