Novel amidase catalysed process for the synthesis of vorinostat drug

Recombinant Amidases: Recent Insights and its Applications in the Production of Industrially Important Fine Chemicals

The current research for the synthesis of industrially important fine chemicals is more inclined towards developing enzyme-based processes. The biotransformation reactions wherein microbial cells/enzymes are used, have become essential in making the process efficient, green, and economical. Amongst industrially important enzymes, amidase is one of the most versatile tools in biocatalysis and biotransformation reactions. It shows broad substrate specificity and sturdy functional characteristics because of its promiscuous nature. Further, advancement in the area led to the development of amidase recombinant systems, which are developed using biotechnology and enzyme engineering tools. Additionally, recombinant amidases may be instrumental in commercializing the synthesis of fine chemicals such as hydroxamic acids that have a significant pharmaceutical market. Hence, the present review focuses on highlighting and assimilating the tools and techniques used in developing recombinant systems followed by their applications.

Microbial amidases: Characterization, advances and biotechnological applications

The amidases (EC 3.5.1.4) are versatile hydrolase biocatalysts that have been the attention of academia and industries for stereo-selective synthesis and bioremediation. These are categorized based on the amino acid sequence and substrate specificity. Notably, the Signature amidase family is distinguished by a characteristic signature sequence, GGSS(S/G)GS, which encompasses highly conserved Ser-Ser-Lys catalytic residues, and the amidases belonging to this family typically demonstrate a broad substrate spectrum activity. The amidases classified within the nitrilase superfamily possess distinct Glu-Lys-Cys catalytic residues and exhibit activity towards small aliphatic substrates. Recent discoveries have underscored the potential role of amidases in the degradation of toxic amides present in polymers, insecticides, and food products. This expands the horizons for amidase-mediated biodegradation of amide-laden pollutants and fosters sustainable development alongside organic synthesis. The burgeoning global production facilities are expected to drive a heightened demand for this enzyme, attributable to its promising chemo-, regio-, and enantioselective hydrolysis capabilities for a variety of amides. Advances in protein engineering have enhanced the catalytic efficiency, structural stability, and substrate selectivity of amidases. Concurrently, the heterologous expression of amidase genes sourced from thermophiles has facilitated the development of highly stable amidases with significant industrial relevance. Beyond their biotransformation capabilities concerning amides, through amido-hydrolase and acyltransferase activities, recent investigations have illuminated the potential of amidase-mediated degradation of amide-containing pollutants in soil and aquatic environments. This review offers a comprehensive overview of recent advancements pertaining to microbial amidases (EC 3.5.1.4), focusing on aspects such as their distribution, gene mining methodologies, enzyme stability, protein engineering, reusability, and biocatalytic efficacy in organic synthesis and biodegradation.

Probiotic characterization of Bacillus smithii: Research advances, concerns, and prospective trends

Bacillus smithii is a thermophilic Bacillus that can be isolated from white wine, hot spring soil, high-temperature compost, and coffee grounds, with various biofunctions and wide applications. It is resistant to both gastric acid and high temperature, which makes it easier to perform probiotic effects than traditional commercial probiotics, so it can maintain good vitality during food processing and has great application prospects. This paper starts with the taxonomy and genetics and focuses on aspects, including genetic transformation, functional enzyme production, waste utilization, and application in the field of food science as a potential probiotic. According to available studies during the past 30 years, we considered that B. smithii is a novel class of microorganisms with a wide range of functional enzymes such as hydrolytic enzymes and hydrolases, as well as resistance to pathogenic bacteria. It is available in waste degradation, organic fertilizer production, the feed and chemical industries, the pharmaceutical sector, and food fortification. Moreover, B. smithii has great potentials for applications in the food industry, as it presents high resistance to the technological processes that guarantee its health benefits. It is also necessary to systematically evaluate the safety, flavor, and texture of B. smithii and explore its biological mechanism of action, which is of great value for further application in multiple fields, especially in food and medicine.

Geobacillus thermoleovorans MTCC 13131: An Amide-Hydrolyzing Thermophilic Bacterium Isolated from a Hot Spring of Manikaran

Geobacillus thermoleovorans MTCC 13131, an amide hydrolyzing bacteria was isolated from a hot spring in Himachal Pradesh and identified through 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. The amidase derived from this bacterium exhibited hydrolyzing catalytic ability against aliphatic and aromatic amides. The isolate was characterized for morphological and biochemical properties. Further, the production of amidase enzyme from this isolate was evaluated using approach of one-variable-at-a-time and response surface method. The Response Surface Methodology based study indicated the importance of nitrogen sources and growth period for amidase production. Optimal production was achieved at a temperature 55 °C, and production pH 7.5 in the production medium comprising diammonium hydrogen phosphate (0.4%), peptone (0.45%) and yeast extract (0.3%). The wide substrate affinity of the strain suggests its potential role in biotransformation of amides to corresponding acids of industrial significance along with its strong capacity to degrade the toxic amide in polluted environmental samples.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12088-022-01042-9.