title: Bioconversion of butyronitrile to butyramide using whole cells of Rhodococcus rhodochrous PA-34.
abstract: Butyramide is an important chemical commodity, which is used for the synthesis of hydroxamic acids and electrorheological fluids and for the preparation of beta-amodoorganotin compounds. The nitrile hydratase (Nhase) of Rhodococcus rhodochrous PA-34 catalyzed the conversion of butyronitrile to butyramide. The maximum Nhase activity [18 U/mg dry cell weight (dcw)] of whole cells of R. rhodochrous PA-34 was observed at pH 7.0 with 10% (v/v) butyronitrile and 1 mg cells (dcw)/ml reaction mixture at 10 degrees C. The cells of R. rhodochrous PA-34 retained almost 50% activity when incubated for 1 h in the presence of 85% (v/v) butyronitrile. A yield of 597 g of butyramide (6.8 M) was obtained using 60% (v/v) butyronitrile, 1 g cells (dry weight) in a 1-l batch reaction at 10 degrees C for 6 h.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Himachal Pradesh University, Summer Hill, Shimla, 171 005, India.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Raj
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Seth
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Prasad
authors.forename: T C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Bhalla
mesh_terms: D000577:Amides / Q000378:metabolism*; D001711:Biotransformation; D006836:Hydro-Lyases / Q000032:analysis; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D009570:Nitriles / Q000378:metabolism*; D012240:Rhodococcus / Q000378:metabolism*; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000577:Amides; D009570:Nitriles; C006866:butyramide; D006836:Hydro-Lyases; C048831:nitrile hydratase; C032723:N-butyronitrile