Industrial kinetic resolution of d,l-pantolactone by an immobilized whole-cell biocatalyst

Abstract

Immobilized whole-cells of Pichia pastoris harboring recombinant D-lactonase were entrapped in calcium alginate gels and used as an efficient biocatalyst for catalytic kinetic resolution of D,L-pantolactone. The immobilized whole-cell biocatalyst exhibited good catalytic stability, which was applied for stereospecific hydrolysis of D-pantolactone for up to 56 repeated batch reactions without obvious loss in the catalytic activity and enantioselectivity.