Occurrence of a novel nitrilase, arylacetonitrilase in Alcaligenes faecalis JM3

Abstract

A novel nitrilase which catalyzes the direct hydrolysis of arylacetonitrile derivatives to the corresponding arylacetic acids has been found in strain JM3, tentatively identified as Alcaligenes faecalis. The addition of isovaleronitrile greatly enhanced the formation of the nitrilase. The culture conditions for the best production of the nitrilase and the substrate specificity of the enzyme are described. © 1990 Springer-Verlag.