Novel enzymatic production of D-(-)-pantoyl lactone through the stereospecific reduction of ketopantoic acid.

Abstract
The high yield stereoselective reduction of ketopantoic acid to D-(-)-pantoic acid with microbial cells as a catalyst is described. High activity was found in several bacteria belonging to the genus Agrobacterium. On incubation with a soil isolate, Agfobacterium sp. S-246, the yield of D-(-)-pantoic acid reached 119 rag/ml, with high molar conversion (90%) and high stereoselectivity (>98% enantiomeric excess). Ketopantoic acid reductase (EC 1.1.1.169) was suggested to be the enzyme responsible for this conversion.

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