Production of d-amino acids by N-acyl-d-amino acid amidohydrolase and its structure and function

d-Amino acids have been widely used as synthetic materials for various compounds such as pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals. The manufacture of d-amino acids by fermentation is difficult, and enzymatic methods are mainly employed. At present, the optical resolution method using N-acyl-d-amino acid amidohydrolase is the most useful and convenient. In this review, the application of N-acyl-d-amino acid amidohydrolase to the production of d-amino acids and recent progress in the study of structure–function relationships from the standpoint of improving this enzyme for industrial application are discussed.