Production of D-proline from L-arginine using Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Several microorganisms that can use (S)-5-[(amino-iminomethyl) amino]-2-chloropentanoic acid (L-Cl-arginine) as a nitrogen source have been isolated, the most interesting of which is a spontaneous mutant of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 (DSM 10581). In a fermenter, this unique biocatalyst hydrolysed L-Cl-arginine to (S)-5-amino-2,-chloropentanoic acid (L-Cl-ornithine), which spontaneously converted to D-proline with inversion of configuration at an apparent average rate of 0.12 mmol (-1) h(-1) OD-1. The enzyme, for which we suggest the name Cl-arginine amidinohydrolase, was best induced by using the substrate L-Cl-arginine as inducer and L-arginine as nitrogen source. The results presented here describe a new route for the production of D-proline from L-arginine, involving a chemical step and a biocatalytic step followed by a spontaneous chemical cyclisation. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.