Patent ID: 6329189
Filing Date: 2001-12-11
Classification: C12N,C12P

Abstract:
An isolated enzyme preparation, said enzyme capable of catalyzing a reaction between an epoxy ring of an epoxysuccinic acid and a phenolic hydroxyl group of a flavonoid, or a flavonoid analogous compound to form a tartaric acid ether compound, wherein said enzyme has the following physiochemical properties:(1) substrate specificity: the enzyme acts specifically to the substrate compounds, viz. epoxysuccinic acids and flavonoids or their analogous compounds having at least one phenolic hydroxyl group, and when the epoxysuccinic acid is (.+-.)-trans-epoxysuccinic acid, the enzyme acts in a favorable way to the flavonoids having at least one phenolic hydroxyl group, including isoflavones, flavones, flavonols, flavanones, dihydroflavonols and aurones, and the flavonoid analogous compounds including coumarins, chalcones, coumaranones, chromones and rotenoids;(2) optimal pH and stable pH range: when (.+-.)-trans-epoxysuccinic acid and genistein are used as substrates, the optimal pH is 4.8 to 5.5 and the stable pH range is 4.5 to 8.0 for a treatment at 37.degree. C. for a period of 30 minutes;(3) molecular weight: the molecular weight as determined by SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis is about 93,000.