Salt mine microorganisms used for the biotransformation of chlorolactones

The aim of the project was to find new catalysts capable of chlorolactone biotransformation. Three bicyclic chlorolactones with structures possessing one or two methyl groups in their cyclohexane ring were subjected to screening biotransformation using seven bacterial strains and one fungal strain from a salt mine. Three strains of bacteria (Micrococcus luteus Pb10, Micrococcus luteus WSP45, Gordonia alkanivorans Pd25) and one fungal strain (Aspergillus sydowii KGJ10) were able to catalyse hydrolytic dehalogenation of one substrate. The classification of the strains that were effective biocatalysts was confirmed by 16S rDNA analysis. The best result (76%) was obtained using Aspergillus sydowii KGJ10. All strains catalysed hydrolytic dehalogenation without changing the conformation. The equatorial position of the chlorine atom in the substrate turned out to be warrant of the positive result of the biotransformation process.