Antibacterial/Penicillin (Metabolic Pathway): Cloning and Expression of Isopenicillin N Epimerase, An Enzyme Potentially Useful for the Semi-Synthesis of Cephalosporins

Summary

Novelty: This patent is concerned with a process for producing isopenicillin N epimerase in highly purified form from cells of Streptomyces clavuligerus. The enzyme converts isopenicillin N to penicillin N in the biosynthetic pathway leading to cephalosporins.

Biology: The examples detail the isolation, purification and characterisation of the enzyme from S. clavuligerus. Also presented are the details for cloning the epimerase gene in E. coli and its subsequent expression.

Chemistry: The enzyme is MWt 47,000 kD and carries 1 mole of pyridoxal phosphate per mole protein.