ChemInform Abstract: Useful Hydrolytic Enzymes: Proteases, Lipases, and Nitrilases

The most recent developments in the use of hydrolytic enzymes - proteases, lipases and nitrilases - are summarized: Sterically demanding a,a-disubstituted carboxylic esters can be enzymatically resolved using a commercially available protease derived from Aspergillus oryzae. A significant enhancement of selectivity and activity of Candida cylindracea lipase in irreversible acyl transfer reactions may be achieved by removal of by-products or via covalent modification of the enzyme. Enzymatic hydrolysis of nitriles proceeds under mild conditions but enzyme-catalysed side- reactions such as ester- or epoxide-hydrolysis may occur.