BIOTECHNOLOGICAL PRODUCTION OF UNNATURAL L-AMINO-ACIDS FROM D,L-5-MONOSUBSTITUTED HYDANTOINS .1. DERIVATIVES OF L-PHENYLALANINE

Resting cells of a mutant of Arthrobacter sp. (DSM 3747) were used for the bioconversion of D,L-5-benzylhydantoin and related compounds to the corresponding L-amino acids. After optimization of the reaction conditions in shake flask experiments, bioconversions were performed in a preparative scale in a 2-l-bioreactor under nitrogen atmosphere. Specific productivities of 0.4 (p-NO2-L-phenylalanine) up to 3.9 mM amino acid x g cell dry mass-1 x h-1 (p-Cl-L-phenylalanine) were obtained. D,L-5-p-COOH-Benzylhydantoin, D,L-5-phenylhydantoin and D,L-5-p-OH-phenylhydantoin were not accepted as substrates.