Patent ID: 8178325
Filing Date: 2012-05-15
Classification: C12P

Abstract:
1. A process for producing a sulfur-containing α-hydroxycarboxylic acid compound represented by the formula (2): wherein R 1 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, or an aryl group having 6 to 20 carbon atoms, which comprises subjecting a sulfur-containing ketol represented by the formula (1): wherein R 1 is the same as defined above, to the action of microbial cells of Rhodococcus sp. ATCC19148 or a microorganism belonging to Pseudomonas putida, Pseudomonas diminuta, Pseudomonas mendocina, Rhodococcus globerulus, Rhodococcus erythropolis, Rhodococcus rhodochrous , or Bacillus alvei capable of converting the sulfur-containing ketol into a corresponding sulfur-containing α-hydroxycarboxylic acid compound, or a treated material thereof, wherein the treated material is selected from the group consisting of microbial cells treated with an organic solvent after culture thereof, microbial cells subjected to lyophilization treatment or alkali treatment, physically or enzymatically disrupted microbial cells, crude enzymes separated and extracted from these treated materials, and immobilized material of these treated materials.