Premium
Enzymatic Synthesis of Enantiopure α‐ and β‐Amino Acids by Phenylalanine Aminomutase‐Catalysed Amination of Cinnamic Acid Derivatives
Author(s) -
Wu Bian,
Szymanski Wiktor,
Wietzes Piet,
de Wildeman Stefaan,
Poelarends Gerrit J.,
Feringa Ben L.,
Janssen Dick B.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
chembiochem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.05
H-Index - 126
eISSN - 1439-7633
pISSN - 1439-4227
DOI - 10.1002/cbic.200800568
Subject(s) - chemistry , cinnamic acid , phenylalanine , amination , enantiopure drug , biocatalysis , stereochemistry , amino acid , substrate (aquarium) , organic chemistry , enantioselective synthesis , catalysis , biochemistry , reaction mechanism , oceanography , geology
Abstract The phenylalanine aminomutase (PAM) from Taxus chinensis catalyses the conversion of α‐phenylalanine to β‐phenylalanine, an important step in the biosynthesis of the N ‐benzoyl phenylisoserinoyl side‐chain of the anticancer drug taxol. Mechanistic studies on PAM have suggested that ( E )‐cinnamic acid is an intermediate in the mutase reaction and that it can be released from the enzyme's active site. Here we describe a novel synthetic strategy that is based on the finding that ring‐substituted ( E )‐cinnamic acids can serve as a substrate in PAM‐catalysed ammonia addition reactions for the biocatalytic production of several important β‐amino acids. The enzyme has a broad substrate range and a high enantioselectivity with cinnamic acid derivatives; this allows the synthesis of several non‐natural aromatic α‐ and β‐amino acids in excellent enantiomeric excess ( ee >99 %). The internal 5‐methylene‐3,5‐dihydroimidazol‐4‐one (MIO) cofactor is essential for the PAM‐catalysed amination reactions. The regioselectivity of amination reactions was influenced by the nature of the ring substituent.