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Directed evolution of an amine transaminase for the synthesis of an Apremilast intermediate via kinetic resolution
Chao Xiang1, Shuke Wu2, Uwe T Bornscheuer1
1Department of Biotechnology and Enzyme Catalysis, Institute of Biochemistry, University of Greifswald, Felix Hausdorff-Str. 4, 17487 Greifswald, Germany.
Abstract:
Apremilast is an important active pharmaceutical ingredient that relies on a resolution to produce the key chiral amine intermediate. To provide a new catalytic and enzymatic process for Apremilast, we performed the directed evolution of the amine transaminase fromVibriofluvialis. Six rounds of evolution resulted in the VF-8M-E variant with > 400-fold increase specific activity over the wildtype enzyme. A homology model of VF-8M-E was built and a molecular docking study was performed to explain the increase in activity. The purified VF-8M-E was successfully applied to produce the key chiral amine intermediate in enantiopure form and 49% conversion via a kinetic resolution, representing a new enzymatic access towards Apremilast.
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