Journal of Biotechnology & Biomaterials
Open Access

Abstract

Nitrile compounds are versatile and can be converted into amides, amines, imines, oximes, carboxylic acids, esters and alcohols, encompassing a large group of economically important synthetic intermediates. The pharmaceutical industry particularly requires amides and acids for use as intermediates in the manufacture of many drugs and chemicals. The biotransformation of nitriles mediated by microorganisms has therefore attracted considerable attention in academia and industry as a sustainable alternative to the conventional chemical reactions that require drastic conditions of pH, temperature and pressure, use of metal catalysts, high-energy consumption and low selectivity in the process. As a result, the search for microorganisms which contain the enzymes responsible for these biotransformations (nitrilases, nitrile hydratases and amidases) is crucial. Work to date in this study has involved the isolation and analysis of pharmaceutically relevant nitrilemetabolizing microorganisms from the environment in the expansion of the PMBRC isolate library by using soil samples from various parts of the globe and construction of metagenomic libraries by direct cloning of environmental DNA using soil samples collected in Ireland. A range of bacteria, yeast and filamentous fungi were isolated for further study. High-throughput colorimetric activity assays were used to identify those that demonstrate the most promising activity. Gene screening of isolates demonstrating desired activity for the presence of nitrilase, nitrile hydratase and amidase was performed by conventional PCR and partial gene sequence was identified. Further study to identify complete gene sequence for cloning and expression is underway towards realizing commercial potential.

Biography

Email: caiosoaresdt@yahoo.com.br