ENZYMATIC REDUCTION OF ALPHA-KETO ACIDS LEADING TO L-AMINO-ACIDS, D-HYDROXY ACIDS OR L-HYDROXY ACIDS

The substrate range of leucine dehydrogenase and phenylalanine dehydro genase isolated from different organisms was investigated using a rang e of hydrophobic alpha-keto acids. Several aliphatic L-amino acids wit h bulky side chains were synthesized by reductive amination, L-neopent ylglycine was produced on 30 kg scale. Besides the reductive amination of the alpha-keto acids these compounds were also investigated as sub strates for hydroxyisocaproate dehydrogenase from Lactobacillus confus us and Lactobacillus casei, respectively. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B. V.