Application of termite hindgut metagenome derived carboxyl ester hydrolases in the modification of cephalosporin substrates.

ABSTRACT: In the pharmaceutical industry, de-acetylated cephalosporins are highly valuable starting materials for producing semi-synthetic β-lactam antibiotics. In this study a fosmid metagenome library from termite hindgut symbionts was screened for carboxyl ester hydrolases capable of de-acetylating cephalosporins. Recombinant Escherichia coli clones with esterolytic phenotypes on tributyrin agar plates were selected and further tested for de-acetylating activity against Cephalothin and 7-aminocephalosporanic acid (7-ACA). Two clones displaying de-acetylating activity were sequenced and the corresponding two carboxyl ester hydrolase encoding genes (axeA and axeB) belonging to the carbohydrate esterase family 7 (CE7) were identified. The primary structure of both the axe

SUBMITTER: Mokoena N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5668906 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature