Part E | 28.1
678 Part E Marine Microbiology and Biotechnology
28.2.9 Biotransformation
of Benzonitrile 6
and 2-Cyanopyridine 14 ............. 695
28.3 Results and Discussion ......................... 696
28.3.1 Screening of Marine Fungi
with Phenylacetonitrile 1
in Solid and Liquid Media .......... 696
28.3.2 Biotransformation
of Phenylacetonitrile
Derivatives 2–4 by the Marine
Fungus A. sydowii CBMAI 934...... 699
28.3.3 Biotransformation
of Cyclohexenylacetonitrile 5
by the Marine Fungus A. sydowii
CBMAI 934................................. 702
28.3.4 Biotransformation of Aromatic
and Hetero(aromatic) Nitriles
by the Marine Fungus A. sydowii
CBMAI 934................................. 705
28.4 Conclusion........................................... 705
References................................................... 706
28.1 Overview
28.1.1 Biocatalysis and Biotransformation
Biocatalysis and biotransformation refer to processes
in which enzymes are used to catalyze chemical reactions, but outside their normal biochemical systems,
with non-natural substrates for their metabolic pathways. The term biotransformation is applied to specific
structural modifications or interconversions of compounds in multiple stages by living organisms [28.1, 2].
Biocatalysis is an area of biotechnology utilized
in chemistry to promote organic reactions with one or
more steps, to produce compounds of interest, especially of high enantiomeric purity. In addition to the importance of biocatalysis for synthesis in chiral blocks,
focused on the production of chiral drugs, there has
been much stress lately on its applicability to the production of raw materials for products in the cosmetics,
polymers, agrochemicals, and fuel industries [28.3, 4].
To establish an effective process of biotransformation, it is necessary to make a detailed analysis of the
factors that influence the development and optimization
of the integrated biotechnological process, which depend on: i) the biocatalyst, ii) the bioconversion, and
iii) the isolation and purification of the product. The
purpose of this chapter is to investigate the biotransformation of nitriles using marine fungi isolated on the
Brazilian coast.
28.1.2 Marine Microorganisms
While most industrial enzymes are derived from terrestrial sources, the potential of marine microorganisms
is being explored with a view to industrial use. In recent years, marine microorganisms have attracted the
interest of researchers aiming to exploit various enzymes in biotechnological applications. An example
is proteases, a very important industrial-type enzyme,
which are used in the processing of leather, food, and
detergents [28.5].
The occurrence of fungi in the marine environment
was recorded in the late nineteenth century; the oceans
cover over 70% of the land surface. Nevertheless, the
known species of marine fungus are far fewer than
known terrestrial species [28.6]. The first facultative
marine fungus, Phaeosphaeria typharus, was described
in 1849, and the first obligate marine fungus, Halotthia posidoniae in 1869 [28.7]. Marine fungi can be
divided into two major groups. The obligate marine
fungi grow and sporulate exclusively in marine or estuarine habitats, while the facultative group inhabits inland water ecosystems and terrestrial environments, but
also grow and survive in marine environments [28.7].
Marine fungi, among other organisms present in the
complex and vast array of marine ecosystems, represent a valuable source of new and rarely studied species
for the scientific laboratory and for ecological, evolutionary, and biotechnological study. These fungi can be
found associated with various marine organisms, such
as sponges, fishes, cnidarians, tunicates, and algae. The
isolation of fungi from the ocean does not necessarily
signify that these organisms are active in the marine
environment. Therefore, it is possible to isolate a terrestrial fungus that has adapted or is simply present
in the marine environment. Also, the fungus could be
isolated in the dormant form of spores or fragments
of hyphae, awaiting conditions in the laboratory that
are favorable for germination, growth, and sporulation.
Several strains of fungi isolated from the marine environment are not demonstrably marine fungi, having
been identified as facultative or optional. Therefore,
678 Part E Marine Microbiology and Biotechnology
28.2.9 Biotransformation
of Benzonitrile 6
and 2-Cyanopyridine 14 ............. 695
28.3 Results and Discussion ......................... 696
28.3.1 Screening of Marine Fungi
with Phenylacetonitrile 1
in Solid and Liquid Media .......... 696
28.3.2 Biotransformation
of Phenylacetonitrile
Derivatives 2–4 by the Marine
Fungus A. sydowii CBMAI 934...... 699
28.3.3 Biotransformation
of Cyclohexenylacetonitrile 5
by the Marine Fungus A. sydowii
CBMAI 934................................. 702
28.3.4 Biotransformation of Aromatic
and Hetero(aromatic) Nitriles
by the Marine Fungus A. sydowii
CBMAI 934................................. 705
28.4 Conclusion........................................... 705
References................................................... 706
28.1 Overview
28.1.1 Biocatalysis and Biotransformation
Biocatalysis and biotransformation refer to processes
in which enzymes are used to catalyze chemical reactions, but outside their normal biochemical systems,
with non-natural substrates for their metabolic pathways. The term biotransformation is applied to specific
structural modifications or interconversions of compounds in multiple stages by living organisms [28.1, 2].
Biocatalysis is an area of biotechnology utilized
in chemistry to promote organic reactions with one or
more steps, to produce compounds of interest, especially of high enantiomeric purity. In addition to the importance of biocatalysis for synthesis in chiral blocks,
focused on the production of chiral drugs, there has
been much stress lately on its applicability to the production of raw materials for products in the cosmetics,
polymers, agrochemicals, and fuel industries [28.3, 4].
To establish an effective process of biotransformation, it is necessary to make a detailed analysis of the
factors that influence the development and optimization
of the integrated biotechnological process, which depend on: i) the biocatalyst, ii) the bioconversion, and
iii) the isolation and purification of the product. The
purpose of this chapter is to investigate the biotransformation of nitriles using marine fungi isolated on the
Brazilian coast.
28.1.2 Marine Microorganisms
While most industrial enzymes are derived from terrestrial sources, the potential of marine microorganisms
is being explored with a view to industrial use. In recent years, marine microorganisms have attracted the
interest of researchers aiming to exploit various enzymes in biotechnological applications. An example
is proteases, a very important industrial-type enzyme,
which are used in the processing of leather, food, and
detergents [28.5].
The occurrence of fungi in the marine environment
was recorded in the late nineteenth century; the oceans
cover over 70% of the land surface. Nevertheless, the
known species of marine fungus are far fewer than
known terrestrial species [28.6]. The first facultative
marine fungus, Phaeosphaeria typharus, was described
in 1849, and the first obligate marine fungus, Halotthia posidoniae in 1869 [28.7]. Marine fungi can be
divided into two major groups. The obligate marine
fungi grow and sporulate exclusively in marine or estuarine habitats, while the facultative group inhabits inland water ecosystems and terrestrial environments, but
also grow and survive in marine environments [28.7].
Marine fungi, among other organisms present in the
complex and vast array of marine ecosystems, represent a valuable source of new and rarely studied species
for the scientific laboratory and for ecological, evolutionary, and biotechnological study. These fungi can be
found associated with various marine organisms, such
as sponges, fishes, cnidarians, tunicates, and algae. The
isolation of fungi from the ocean does not necessarily
signify that these organisms are active in the marine
environment. Therefore, it is possible to isolate a terrestrial fungus that has adapted or is simply present
in the marine environment. Also, the fungus could be
isolated in the dormant form of spores or fragments
of hyphae, awaiting conditions in the laboratory that
are favorable for germination, growth, and sporulation.
Several strains of fungi isolated from the marine environment are not demonstrably marine fungi, having
been identified as facultative or optional. Therefore,