title: Isolation, identification and characterization of Bacillus subtilis ZJB-063, a versatile nitrile-converting bacterium.
abstract: Strain ZJB-063, a versatile nitrile-amide-degrading strain, was newly isolated from soil in this study. Based on morphology, physiological tests, Biolog and the 16S rDNA sequence, strain ZJB-063 was identified as Bacillus subtilis. ZJB-063 exhibited nitrilase activity without addition of inducers, indicating that the nitrilase in B. subtilis ZJB-063 is constitutive. Interestingly, the strain exhibited nitrile hydratase and amidase activity with the addition of epsilon-caprolactam. Moreover, the substrate spectrum altered with the alteration of enzyme systems due to the addition of epsilon-caprolactam. The constitutive nitrilase was highly specific for arylacetonitriles, while the nitrile hydratase/amidase in B. subtilis ZJB-063 could not only hydrolyze arylacetonitriles but also other nitriles including some aliphatic nitriles and heterocyclic nitriles. Despite comparatively low activity, the amidase of hydratase/amidase system was effective in converting amides to acids. The versatility of this strain in the hydrolysis of various nitriles and amides makes it a potential biocatalyst in organic synthesis.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Bioengineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310032, People's Republic of China. zhengyg@zjut.edu.cn
authors.forename: Yu-Guo
authors.initials: YG
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Zhi-Qiang
authors.initials: ZQ
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Ming-Huo
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Liang-Ying
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Xing
authors.forename: Yin-Chu
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Shen
mesh_terms: D000577:Amides / Q000378:metabolism*; D000619:Aminohydrolases / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques; D002208:Caproates / Q000378:metabolism; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D006836:Hydro-Lyases / Q000378:metabolism; D007783:Lactones / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009570:Nitriles / Q000378:metabolism*; D010802:Phylogeny; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D013379:Substrate Specificity
chemical_list: D000577:Amides; D002208:Caproates; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D007783:Lactones; D009570:Nitriles; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; C121056:caprolactone; D000619:Aminohydrolases; C021867:nitrilase; D006836:Hydro-Lyases; C048831:nitrile hydratase