Biotechnology Letters 2004-08-01

Correlation between the physicochemical properties of organic solvents and their biocompatibility toward epoxide hydrolase activity in whole-cells of a yeast, Rhodotorula sp.

Jeanette Lotter, Adriana L Botes, Martha S Van Dyk, Jaco C Breytenbach

Index: Biotechnol. Lett. 26(15) , 1191-5, (2004)

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Abstract

Epoxides are often highly hydrophobic substrates and the presence of an organic co-solvent within an aqueous bioreactor is in such cases indicated. The effect of 40 water-miscible and -immiscible organic solvents on epoxide hydrolase activity in whole-cells of the yeast Rhodotorula sp. UOFS Y-0448 was investigated. No formal correlation between solvent biocompatibility and physicochemical properties was deductible, although the introduction of hydroxyl groups increased biocompatibility. 1-Pentanol, 2-methylcyclohexanol and 1-octanol were the most biocompatible resulting in relatively low activity losses when used at up to 20% (v/v).