γ-Glutamyl Transfer Reactions by Glutaminase fromPseudomonas nitroreducensIFO 12694 and Their Application for the Syntheses of Theanine and γ-Glutamylmethylamide

In a mixture containing γ-glutamyl donor (donor) and γ-glutamyl acceptor (acceptor), the glutaminase of Pseudomonas nitroreducens IFO 12694 simultaneously catalyzed a γ-glutamyl transfer reaction and hydrolysis of the donor. The variation of the activities responding to the concentration of glutathione and glycylglycine indicated that the enzyme might be classified in a group of glutaminases that shows hydrolysis prior to transfer reaction. On the other hand, the results with glutamine and ethylamine or methylamine indicated that the enzyme was active in the transfer reaction with suppressed hydrolysis of glutamine, and suggested the possibility of using the reaction for producing γ-glutamylethylamide (theanine) or γ-glutamylmethylamide (γ-GMA). In fact, in a mixture containing high concentrations of substrates (0.7 M glutamine, 1.5 M ethylamine or methylamine) and 0.5 unit/ml glutaminase (borate buffer pH 11), 270 mM (47 g/L) theanine or 250 mM (38 g/L) γ-GMA was formed in 7 h of incubation at 30°C.