Access to enantiopure aromatic epoxides and diols using epoxide hydrolases derived from total biofilter DNA

Metagenomic DNA is a rich source of genes encoding novel epoxide hydrolases (EHs). We retrieved two genes encoding functional EHs from total DNA isolated from biofilter-derived biomass, using PCR with EH-specific degenerate primers followed by genome-walking PCR. The degenerate primers were based on two EH-specific consensus sequences: HGWP and GHDWG. The resulting recombinant EHs, Kau2 and Kau8, were expressed in Escherichia coli, and their enantioselectivity and regioselectivity were determined using 13 different epoxide substrates. The EH Kau2 had broad substrate specificity and preferentially hydrolyzed epoxides with S-configuration. It showed high enantioselectivity towards aromatic epoxides such as styrene oxide, p-nitrostyrene oxide, and trans-1-phenyl-1,2-epoxypropane. In addition, Kau2 showed enantioconvergent hydrolysis activity. The EH Kau8 also showed broad substrate specificity and preferentially hydrolyzed epoxides with R-configuration. High enantioselectivity was observed for p-nitrostyrene oxide, and the hydrolysis activity of Kau8 was less enantioconvergent than that of Kau2. To determine the usefulness of Kau2 for synthetic applications, preparative-scale biohydrolysis reactions were performed. Specifically, two kinetic resolutions were carried out with 80 g/L of racemic trans-1-phenyl-1,2-epoxypropane, affording both (1R,2R)-epoxide and the corresponding (1R,2S)-diol in high enantiomeric excess (>99%) and good yield (>45%). In addition, a process based on enantioconvergent hydrolysis by the EH Kau2 was established for racemic cis-1-phenyl-1,2-epoxypropane at a concentration of 13 g/L, resulting in the formation of the corresponding (1R,2R)-diol with a 97% yield and an enantiomeric excess exceeding 98%.