A thermostable D-hydantoinase isolated from a mesophilic Bacillus sp.AR9.

A thermostable hydantoinase has been characterized from a mesophilic Bacillus sp.AR9. The hydantoinase produced by this Bacillus sp.AR9 is strictly D-specific and is constitutively produced with high yields (4500 U/ml) in this strain. The enzyme is not only alkalo- and thermostable but has a pH and temperature optimum of 9.5 and 65 degrees C, respectively, which is advantageous for the bioconversion of DL-5-monosubstituted-hydantoin derivatives. The enzyme has a half life of 80 minutes at 70 degrees C and loses only 33% of its activity in 4 hr at 60 degrees C. The enzyme has a broad substrate specificity with a maximum of 100% with hydantoin and about 26% with dihydrouracil. Co+ + ions enhance the activity of the enzyme by more than 60%.