Gene identification of L-alanine-3-formylquinuclidine aminotransferase from Brevibacterium aurantiacum NBRC 12171

Quinuclidine derivatives are promising pharmaceutical agents. Herein, we screened for microorganisms capable of converting 3-formylquinuclidine and found that Brevibacterium aurantiacum NBRC 12171 converted 3-formylquinuclidine into quinuclidin-3-ylmethanamine. Through enzyme purification and the heterologous expression of candidate genes, the L-alanine-3-formylquinuclidine aminotransferase gene was identified. Using purified recombinant L-alanine-3-formylquinuclidine aminotransferase, we identified L-alanine as an amino donor for the conversion of 3-formylquinuclidine to quinuclidin-3-ylmethanamine. These findings provide a potential biocatalytic approach for the sustainable production of quinuclidine-based pharmaceutical building blocks.