REGIO-SPECIFIC AND STEREO-SPECIFIC NITRILE HYDROLYSIS BY THE NITRILE HYDRATASE FROM RHODOCOCCUS AJ270

An acetonitrile-utilising bacterium AJ270 has been isolated from soil, identified as a Rhodococcus sp. and shown to be distinct from all the recognised species of the genus. It grows well on 32 of 36 aliphatic, aromatic and hetero-aromatic nitriles tested and is capable of rapid growth on high concentrations (0.25-0.38 M) of acetonitrile, benzonitr ile and 3-cyanopyridine. The nitrile hydratase of Rhodococcus AJ270 is stable on storage for 18 months at -20 degrees C, has activity agains t a very broad range of nitriles and dinitriles and is able to catalys e regio-specific and stereo-specific nitrile biotransformations. The s uitability of AJ270 as a robust and versatile biocatalyst is discussed .