Abstract
The nitrile hydratase (NHase) gene of Rhodococcus rhodochrous PA-34 mutant 4D has been amplified by PCR, cloned and expressed in Pichia pastoris KM-71 using pHIL-D2 expression vector. The recombinant P. pastoris KM-71 exhibited active expression of the nitrile hydratase gene of the mutant 4D and has shown very good potential for the transformation of 3-cyanopyridine to nicotinamide. The recombinant P. pastoris KM-71 exhibited maximum NHase activity when cultivated in YPD medium was supplemented with 0.4 mM cobalt ions. The recombinant P. pastoris KM-71 showed maximum nitrile hydratase enzyme production, when incubated at 30 °C for 15 h.
Acknowledgements
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Declaration of interest
The authors report no declarations of interest. The research work was supported by a research grant from Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, New Delhi, India.