title: Ester synthesis by NAD(+)-dependent dehydrogenation of hemiacetal: production of methyl formate by cells of methylotrophic yeasts.
abstract: A water-soluble ester, methyl formate, was detected as a metabolite in the culture medium of methylotrophic yeasts. Methyl formate synthase, which catalyses NAD(+)-dependent dehydrogenation of the hemiacetal adduct of methanol and formaldehyde, catalyses the ester synthesis. The enzyme activity was induced on a methanol medium and was increased further by the addition of formaldehyde. In the reaction system using intact cells of Pichia methanolica AKU 4262, 135 mM (8.1 g/liter) methyl formate was produced from 2 M methanol. This is a new biological process for ester synthesis that couples spontaneous formation of hemiacetal and alcohol dehydrogenase.
authors.affiliation: Division of Applied Life Sciences, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Japan.
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Murdanoto
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sakai
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sembiring
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tani
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kato
mesh_terms: D004952:Esters / Q000378:metabolism*; D005557:Formaldehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D005563:Formic Acid Esters / Q000378:metabolism*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D000432:Methanol / Q000378:metabolism; D009243:NAD / Q000378:metabolism*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010843:Pichia / Q000378:metabolism*; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D004952:Esters; D005563:Formic Acid Esters; D009243:NAD; D005557:Formaldehyde; C025468:methyl formate; D000432:Methanol