Stereoselective synthesis of (R)-phenylephrine using recombinant Escherichia coli cells expressing a novel short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase gene from Serratia marcescens BCRC 10948

(R)-Phenylephrine [(R)-PE] is an alpha(1)-adrenergic receptor agonist and is widely used as a nasal decongestant to treat the common cold without the side effects of other ephedrine adrenergic drugs. We identified a short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase (SM_SDR) from Serratia marcescens BCRC 10948 that was able to convert 1-(3-hydroxypheny1)-2-(methylamino) ethanone (HPMAE) into (R)-PE. The SM_SDR used NADPH and NADH as cofactors with specific activities of 17.35 +/- 0.71 and 5.57 +/- 0.07 mU/mg protein, respectively, at 30 degrees C and pH 7.0, thereby indicating that this enzyme could be categorized as an NADPH-preferring short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase. Escherichia coli strain BL21 (DE3) expressing SM_SDR could convert HPMAE into (R)-PE with more than 99% enantiomeric excess. The productivity and conversion yield were 0.57 mmol PE/1h and 51.06%, respectively, using 10 mM HPMAE. Fructose was the most effective carbon source for the conversion of HPMAE to (R)-PE. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.