A New Carboxylesterase fromBrevibacterium linensIFO 12171 Responsible for the Conversion of 1,4-Butanediol Diacrylate to 4-Hydroxybutyl Acrylate: Purification, Characterization, Gene Cloning, and Gene Expression inEscherichia coli

A carboxylesterase that is responsible for conversion of 1,4-butanediol diacrylate (BDA) to 4-hydroxybutyl acrylate (4HBA) was found in Brevibacterium lines IFO 12171, and purified to homogeneity. The purified enzyme was active toward a variety of diesters of ethylene glycol, 1,4-butanediol, and 1,6-hexanediol. The Km and kcat of the enzyme for BDA were 3.04 mM and 203,000 s-1, respectively. The reaction with the purified enzyme gave 98 mM 4HBA from 100 mM BDA for 60 min.