Optically active 2-hydroxy-carboxylates are important compounds for their use as intermediates in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals and stereoblock polymers. Enterobacter sp. DS-S-75 and the recombinant Escherichia coli harbouring the 4-chloro-3- hydroxybutyrate (CHB) hydrolase gene from the strain DS-S-75 showed asymmetric hydrolytic activity towards 2-hydroxy-carboxylates, as well as towards CHB. It was ...