title: Generation of mutant of Rhodococcus rhodochrous PA-34 through chemical mutagenesis for hyperproduction of nitrile hydratase.
abstract: Rhodococcus rhodochrous PA-34 has been reported to produce nitrile hydratase enzyme that converts 3-cyanopyridine to nicotinamide. A mutant of R. rhodochrous PA-34 was generated through chemical mutagenesis using N-methyl-N-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) that exhibited 2 times higher nitrile hydratase activity as compared to wild strain. The reaction conditions using resting cells of this mutant strain for the conversion of nicotinamide were optimized. Under the optimized reaction conditions the mutant strain exhibited maximum nitrile hydratase activity [7.8 U/mgdcm (milligram dry cell mass)] at 55 degrees C in 0.3 M potassium phosphate buffer (pH 5.5).
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Himachal Pradesh University, Summer Hill, Shimla, India.
authors.forename: Amit
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pratush
authors.forename: Amit
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Seth
authors.forename: Tek Chand
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Bhalla
mesh_terms: D003470:Culture Media; D006836:Hydro-Lyases / Q000235:genetics*; D008769:Methylnitronitrosoguanidine; D016296:Mutagenesis; D011725:Pyridines; D012240:Rhodococcus / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D011725:Pyridines; D008769:Methylnitronitrosoguanidine; D006836:Hydro-Lyases; C048831:nitrile hydratase; C020729:3-cyanopyridine