Reductive biotransformation by wild type and mutant strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae in aqueous‐organic solvent biphasic systems

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Abstract
Whole cells of Saccharomyces cerevisiae analyzed the conversion of benzaldehyde to benzyl alcohol in aqueous-organic biphasic media. Reaction rate increased dramatically as moisture content of the solvent was increased in the range 0% to 2%. The highest biotransformation rates were observed when hexane was used as organic solvent. Benzaldehyde was also converted to benzyl alcohol by a cell-free crude extract in biphasic systems containing hexane, although the rate of product formation was much lower. Mutant strains of S. cerevisiae lacking some or all of the ADH isoenzymes, ADH I, II, and III, manifested similar rates for bioconversion of benzaldehyde to benzyl alcohol in both aqueous and two-phase systems. In general, conversion rates observed in aqueous media were 2 to 3 times higher than those observed in hexane containing 2% moisture.