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

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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.