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Nitrile Metabolizing Enzymes in Biocatalysis and Biotransformation

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Abstract

Nitrile metabolizing enzymes, i.e., aldoxime dehydratase, hydroxynitrile lyase, nitrilase, nitrile hydratase, and amidase, are the key catalysts in carbon nitrogen triple bond anabolism and catabolism. Over the past several years, these enzymes have drawn considerable attention as prominent biocatalysts in academia and industries because of their wide applications. Research on various aspects of these biocatalysts, i.e., sources, screening, function, purification, molecular cloning, structure, and mechanisms, has been conducted, and bioprocesses at various scales have been designed for the synthesis of myriads of useful compounds. This review is focused on the potential of nitrile metabolizing enzymes in the production of commercially important fine chemicals such as nitriles, carboxylic acids, and amides. A number of opportunities and challenges of nitrile metabolizing enzymes in bioprocess development for the production of bulk and fine chemicals are discussed.

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Acknowledgements

Authors are highly grateful to University Grants Commission (UGC), New Delhi, India, for providing financial assistance in the form of Senior Research Fellowship to Dr. Vijay Kumar. The computational facility availed at Sub-Distributed Information Centre (SDIC), Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla, is also duly acknowledged.

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  1. Department of Biotechnology, Himachal Pradesh University, Summer Hill Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, 171005, India

    Tek Chand Bhalla, Vijay Kumar, Virender Kumar, Neerja Thakur &  Savitri

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  1. Tek Chand Bhalla
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  2. Vijay Kumar
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Bhalla, T.C., Kumar, V., Kumar, V. et al. Nitrile Metabolizing Enzymes in Biocatalysis and Biotransformation. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 185, 925–946 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-018-2705-7

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