REGIOSELECTIVE HYDROXYLATION OF ISOPHORONE AND FURTHER CONVERSION TO KETOISOPHORONE

摘要

The present invention relates to novel process for the production of ketoisophorone via biocatalytic conversion of isophorone, in particular a one-pot biocatalytic system for conversion of α-isophorone in a two-step oxidation process, with a first oxidation being catalyzed by a heme containing oxidoreductase such as a cytochrome P450 monooxygenase followed by another oxidation which can be either a chemical reaction or a biocatalytic reaction, in particular wherein the oxidation is catalyzed by an NAD(P) or NADP(H)-dependent oxidoreductase. The invention further provides polypeptides and nucleic acid sequences coding for cytochrome P450 monooxygenase with modified (higher) substrate selectivity, total turnover numbers and/or (re)activity compared to the wild-type enzyme. Ketoisophorone is useful as building block in the synthesis of vitamins and carotenoids.