IP Library Granted Patent US 7,811,804
Granted Patent B2
US 7,811,804 · App. 12/556,528 · Granted Oct 12, 2010

Nitrilases, nucleic acids encoding them and methods for making and using them

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,811,804
App. No.
12/556,528
Granted
Oct 12, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

The invention relates to nitrilases and to nucleic acids encoding the nitrilases. In addition methods of designing new nitrilases and method of use thereof are also provided. The nitrilases have increased activity and stability at increased pH and temperature.

Claims (14)

1. An isolated, synthetic or recombinant polypeptide having a nitrilase activity comprising a polypeptide having a sequence with at least 90% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:210, or an enzymatically active fragment thereof.

2. The isolated, synthetic or recombinant polypeptide of claim 1 , wherein the polypeptide has at least 95% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:210.

3. The isolated, synthetic or recombinant polypeptide of claim 2 , wherein the polypeptide has at least 98% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:210.

4. The isolated, synthetic or recombinant polypeptide of claim 3 , wherein the polypeptide has the sequence of SEQ ID NO:210, or an enzymatically active fragment thereof.

5. The isolated, synthetic or recombinant polypeptide of claim 1 , wherein the nitrilase activity comprises hydrolyzing a nitrile to a carboxylic acid.

6. The isolated, synthetic or recombinant polypeptide of claim 1 , wherein the nitrilase activity comprises hydrolyzing a cyanohydrin moiety or an aminonitrile moiety of a molecule.

7. The isolated, synthetic or recombinant polypeptide of claim 1 , wherein the nitrilase activity comprises an enantio-selective nitrilase activity and the enantio-selective activity comprises generating a chiral alpha-hydroxy acid molecule or a chiral amino acid molecule by catalyzing the hydrolysis of a molecule having a cyanohydrin moiety or an aminonitrile moiety.

8. The isolated, synthetic or recombinant polypeptide of claim 7 , wherein the generated chiral molecule is an (R)-enantiomer.

9. The isolated, synthetic or recombinant polypeptide of claim 7 , wherein the generated chiral molecule is an (S)-enantiomer.

10. The isolated, synthetic or recombinant polypeptide of claim 1 , wherein the nitrilase activity comprises hydrolysis of a hydroxyglutaryl nitrile to generate an ethyl 4-cyano-3-hydroxybutyric acid.

11. The isolated, synthetic or recombinant polypeptide of claim 1 , wherein the nitrilase activity comprises hydrolysis of a hydroxyglutaryl nitrile to generate an (R)-ethyl 4-cyano-3-hydroxybutyric acid.

12. The isolated, synthetic or recombinant polypeptide of claim 1 , wherein the nitrilase activity comprises hydrolysis of a mandelonitrile to generate a mandelic acid or mandelic acid derivative.

13. The isolated, synthetic or recombinant polypeptide of claim 1 , wherein the nitrilase activity comprises hydrolysis of phenyllactocyanonitrile to generate an (S) -phenyl lactic acid derivative or an (R)-phenyl lactic acid derivative.

14. The isolated, synthetic or recombinant polypeptide of claim 1 , wherein the polypeptide is made by a method comprising introducing a nucleic acid encoding the polypeptide into a host cell, wherein the host cell produces the polypeptide, and optionally the method further comprises recovering the polypeptide.

Assignments (5)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 9, 2014
From: ATHYRIUM OPPORTUNITIES FUND (A) LP
To: VERENIUM CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 031956/0016 →
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Dec 11, 2012
From: VERENIUM CORPORATION
To: ATHYRIUM OPPORTUNITIES FUND (A) LP
Reel/Frame 029444/0119 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 1, 2012
From: COMERICA BANK
To: VERENIUM CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 028300/0200 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Oct 21, 2011
From: VERENIUM CORPORATION, A DELAWARE CORPORATION
To: COMERICA BANK, A TEXAS BANKING ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 027099/0408 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 16, 2009
From: DESANTIS, GRACE; SHORT, JAY M.; BURK, MARK J.; WONG, KELVIN; CHATMAN, KELLY; FARWELL, ROBERT
To: VERENIUM CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 023238/0948 →