Development of anR-Selective Amine Oxidase with Broad Substrate Specificity and High Enantioselectivity

Amine oxidases are useful bio-catalysts for the synthesis of enantiomerically pure 1°, 2° and 3° chiral amines. Enzymes in this class (e.g., MAO-N from Aspergillus niger) reported previously have been shown to be highly S selective. Herein we report the development of an enantiocomplementary R-selective amine oxidase based on 6-hydroxy-D-nicotine oxidase (6-HDNO) with broadened substrate scope and high enantioselectivity. The engineered 6-HDNO enzyme has been applied to the preparative deracemisation of a range of racemic amines to yield S-configured products, for example, (S)-nicotine, in high ee.