ESTER SYNTHESIS BY NAD(-DEPENDENT DEHYDROGENATION OF HEMIACETAL - PRODUCTION OF METHYL FORMATE BY CELLS OF METHYLOTROPHIC YEASTS())

A water-soluble ester, methyl formate, was detected as a metabolite in the culture medium of methylotrophic yeasts, Methyl formate synthase, which catalyses NAD(+)-dependent dehydrogenation of the hemiacetal ad duct of methanol and formaldehyde, catalyses the ester synthesis, The enzyme activity was inducted on a methanol medium and was increased fu rther by the addition of formaldehyde. In the reaction system using in tact cells of Pichia methanolica AKU 4262, 135 mM (8.1 g/liter) methyl formate was produced from 2M methanol, This is a new biological proce ss for ester synthesis that couples spontaneous formation of hemiaceta l and alcohol dehydrogenase.