Direct Spectrophotometric Assay for Benzaldehyde Lyase Activity

doi:10.4061/2011/478925

Biotechnol Res Int. 2011; 2011: 478925.

Published online 2011 July 14. doi: 10.4061/2011/478925

PMCID: PMC3142707

Direct Spectrophotometric Assay for Benzaldehyde Lyase Activity

Dessy Natalia,¹ Christina Kohlmann,¹ Marion B. Ansorge-Schumacher,² and Lasse Greiner^{1, 3}^*

¹ITMC, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52056 Aachen, Germany

²Insititute of Chemistry, Technical University of Berlin, Straβe des 17. Juni 124, 10623 Berlin, Germany

³DECHEMA e.V. Karl-Winnacker-Institut, Theodor-Heuss-Allee 25, 60486 Frankfurt am Main, Germany

*Lasse Greiner: Email: greiner/at/dechema.de

Academic Editor: Manuel Canovas

Received March 23, 2011; Revised May 25, 2011; Accepted June 8, 2011.

This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract

Benzaldehyde lyase from Pseudomonas fluorescens Biovar I. (BAL, EC 4.1.2.38) is a versatile catalyst for the organic synthesis of chiral α-hydroxy ketones. To allow fast assessment of enzyme activity, a direct spectrophotometric assay is desirable. Here, a new robust and easy-to-handle assay based on UV absorption is presented. The assay developed is based on the ligation of the α-hydroxy ketone (R)-2,2′-furoin from 2-furaldehyde. A robust assay with direct monitoring of the product is facilitated with a convenient concentration working range minimising experimental associated with low concentrations.

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