Mining of a novel reductase and its application for asymmetric reduction of p-methoxyacetophenone

Abstract (R)-1-(4-methoxyphenyl) ethanol [(R)-1b] is an essential precursor for the synthesis of aryl propanoic acids’ anti-inflammatatory drugs. Biocatalysts for (R)-1b preparation are limited and reductase has problems of low substrate concentration and low conversion rate. As a result, there is a constant need for discovering novel biocatalysts with excellent catalytic performances. In this study, a novel reductase LpSDR from Lacisediminihabitans profunda for the biocatalytic reduction of p-methoxyacetophenone (1a) to (R)-1b was obtained based on gene-mining technology, and some key reaction parameters were also investigated to improve the conversion rate of 1a using whole cells of recombinant Escherichia coli expressing reductase LpSDR as biocatalysts. It was found that the optimal concentration of isopropanol, ZnSO4·7H2O solution, 1a, and recombinant E. coli resting cells, the optimal reaction temperature, buffer pH, and reaction time were 1.95 mol l−1, 0.75 mmol l−1, 75 mmol l−1, 250 g (wet weight) l−1, 28°C, 7.0, and 21 h, respectively. Under the above conditions, a conversion rate of 99.5% and an enantiomeric excess of 99.6% were obtained, which were superior to the corresponding values previously reported. This study provides a novel reductase LpSDR, which is helpful in reducing 1a to (R)-1b.