HCN production and hydroxynitrile lyase: a natural activity in plants and a renewed biotechnological interest.
Over 3,000 plant species are cyanogenic. Cyanogenesis is defined as the hydroxynitrile lyase catalysed release of a cyanide group in the form of HCN and the corresponding aldehyde or ketone. When a plant is attacked, HCN released is a self defence mechanism. A special characteristic of enzymatic reactions is that all enzymatic reactions are reversible-hydroxynitrile lyases can also be used for the synthesis of enantiomerically pure cyanohydrins which are of great importance in industry. This article presents a comprehensive review of the role of hydroxynitrile lyases, both in nature and industry, and an insightful. Areas covered include: history, discovery and natural sources of the hydroxynitrile lyase. Molecular cloning for mass production of this enzyme, including detailed information about several successful recombinant hydroxynitrile lyases is also included.
School of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Private Bag 3, Wits, 2050, South Africa.
Muhammad Arshad
MA
Kassim
Karl
K
Rumbold
D000446:Aldehyde-Lyases / Q000378:metabolism*; D001709:Biotechnology / Q000379:methods; D006856:Hydrogen Cyanide / Q000378:metabolism*; D009570:Nitriles / Q000378:metabolism*; D018521:Plant Physiological Phenomena; D010944:Plants / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000378:metabolism*
D009570:Nitriles; C430593:cyanohydrin; D006856:Hydrogen Cyanide; D000446:Aldehyde-Lyases; C021541:mandelonitrile lyase