Functional characterization of a novel microbial esterase identified from the Indian Ocean and its use in the stereoselective preparation of(R)-methyl mandelate

Genomic mining has identifi ed a novel microbial alkaline esterase from the Indian Ocean. This esterase was overexpressed in E. coli BL21（DE3） and further functionally characterized. Under optimal conditions（10 mmol/L substrate, p H 6.0, 2 h at 40 ℃）, this esterase can hydrolyze racemic methyl mandelate to（ R）-methyl mandelate with very high optical purity（e. e. 〉99%） and yield（nearly 90%）. Interestingly, the stereoselectivity of this esterase is opposite to that of two previously reported lipases that can generate（ S）-methyl mandelate through the hydrolysis of racemic methyl mandelate. No organic solvents or other additives were required to optimize the optical purity and production of the fi nal chiral product（R）-methyl mandelate, which can potentially simplify the production procedure of（ R）-methyl mandelate catalyzed by esterase.