Esterases are used as biocatalysts for the hydrolytic resolution of important pharmaceutical intermediates with excellent chemo-, regio-, and stereo- selectivity. With the aim of finding new esterases highly stable in a broad range of organic solvents, 148 halophilic microorganisms from the salterns of Cabo Rojo (Puerto Rico) were cultivated in marine broth, and screened for esterase activity using p-nitrophenyl acetate as chromogenic substrate. Microorganisms positive for esterase were tested for activity and stability after 24 hours of incubation in a broad range of organic solvent/water mixtures at different ratios (15%, 30% and 50% (v/v)). A new halophilic esterase (MO-12) closely related to Bacillus subtilis was selected as the most promising enzyme for biotechnological application. The crude enzymatic preparation was precipitated with ammonium sulphate, and after dialyzing and lyophilization it was analyzed through SDS-PGE and Western Blotting. The esterase band was excised from the gel, eluted, and analyzed through mass spectroscopy.

Novel halophilic esterase for biocatalysis in non-aqueous media

247th National Meeting (2014)

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