Title: Free and immobilised Citrobacter amalonaticus CECT 863 as a biocatalyst for nucleoside synthesis

Authors: Jorge A. Trelles, Elizabeth S. Lewkowicz, Jose V. Sinisterra, Adolfo M. Iribarren

Addresses: Universidad Nacional de Quilmes. R.S. Pena 180, (1876) Bernal, Buenos Aires, Argentina. ' Universidad Nacional de Quilmes. R.S. Pena 180, (1876) Bernal, Buenos Aires, Argentina. ' Departamento de Quimica Organica y Farmaceutica, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Ciudad Universitaria s/n. E-28040 Madrid, Spain. ' Universidad Nacional de Quilmes. R.S. Pena 180, (1876) Bernal, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Abstract: The synthesis of modified nucleosides has received a great deal of attention due to their applications as antiviral and antitumoral agents. Among the different synthetic strategies, microbial transglycosylation has already shown to provide successful results. In the present work, we analyse the use of Citrobacter amalonaticus CECT 863 cells - free or immobilised - in the synthesis of some modified nucleosides. The main characteristics of the immobilised biocatalysts such as type and concentration of polymer, mechanical and storage stability and reuse were assessed. From these studies, polyacrylamide was selected as the best support based on its performance and potential industrial applications. In particular, it can be reused more than 50 times without significant loss of activity.

Keywords: Citrobacter amalonaticus; modified nucleosides; biocatalyst; nucleoside synthesis; microbial transglycosylation; cell immobilisation; polyacrylamide.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBT.2004.005520

International Journal of Biotechnology, 2004 Vol.6 No.4, pp.376 - 384

Published online: 12 Oct 2004 *

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