NOVEL RHODOCOCCUS ESTERASES BY GENETIC-ENGINEERING

Esterases are important enzymes because of their ability to catalyze a number of hydrolytic reactions. Cloning and overexpression of esteras e genes provides a useful strategy to make further esterases available for technical use. A genomic library of Rhodococcus sp. NCIMB 11216 w as screened by activity assay using alpha-naphthol-acetate. Two indepe ndent esterase genes were isolated and one of them showed ability to h ydrolyse esters of tertiary alcohols. By rescreening the genomic libra ry using the bulky substrate, naphthol AS-D acetate, a few further est erase genes were isolated. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights r eserved.