New Reagents for Asymmetric Organic Synthesis from Engineered Baker's Yeast

这项研究的重点之一将是改变面包酵母还原的对映体选择性。由此产生的“设计酵母”将用于合成手性构建块，并用于短时间、不对称合成N-苯甲酰基-2-(2R，3S)-3-苯基异丝氨酸，这是紫杉醇侧链中发现的β-氨基酸。第二个重点将采用基因重组的方法来提高黄素单加氧酶的对映选择性。有了这个更新的奖项，有机和高分子化学计划将支持佛罗里达大学化学系的乔恩·D·斯图尔特博士的研究。斯图尔特教授将专注于开发一种合成策略，将使用纯化酶的优势与使用整个微生物细胞进行反应的实验便利性结合起来。通过DNA技术在面包酵母的整个细胞中产生特定的酶。工程酵母菌株被称为“设计酵母”，然后被用来进行合成反应。还将开发发现具有高对映选择性的酶的新的筛选技术。

One focus of this research will be to alter the enantioselectivities of baker's yeast reductions. The resulting "designer yeasts" will be used for the synthesis of chiral building blocks and for a short, asymmetric synthesis of N-benzoyl-2- (2R,3S)-3-phenylisoserine, the beta-amino acid found in the side chain of Taxol. A second focus will employ a gene shuffling approach to improving the enantioselectivity of flavin monooxygenases.With this renewal award, the Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry Program is supporting the research of Dr. Jon D. Stewart of the Department of Chemistry at the University of Florida. Professor Stewart will focus his work on developing a synthetic strategy that combines the advantages of using purified enzymes with the experimental convenience of reactions using whole microbial cells. Specific enzymes are produced in whole cells of baker's yeast by DNA techniques. The engineered yeast strains, known as "designer yeasts," are then used to carry out synthetic reactions. New screening techniques for discovering enzymes with high enantioselectivity will also be developed.