A process for the biocatalytic production of a β-amino acid precursor, comprising: reacting at least one substrate of the general formula wherein R 1 and R 2 independently from each other are selected from: hydrogen; a linear or branched, optionally substituted, lower alkyl group; a linear or branched, optionally substituted, lower alkenyl group; an optionally substituted cyclic alkyl group; a mono- or polycyclic, optionally substituted aryl group; a mono- or polycyclic, optionally substituted heteroaryl group; a linear or branched, optionally substituted alkoxy group; an amino group; a linear or branched, optionally substituted alkylamino group; a linear or branched, optionally substituted alkylthio group; a linear or branched, optionally substituted acyl group, a carboxyl group or an aldehyde group; said substrate being present in stereoisomerically pure form or as a mixture of stereoisomers, wherein the stereoisomercally pure form or the mixture of stereoisomers may optionally be a salt, in the presence of at least one enzyme, catalyzing the hydrolytic cleavage of a hydantoin and/or dihydropyrimidin ring, so that a β-amino acid precursor of the general formula wherein R 1 and R 2 are identified as above, is produced; said process being characterized in that said at least one enzyme which is applied in said process is a hydantoinase and/or dihydropyrimidinase and is obtained from Vigna angularis and comprises at least one of the following partial sequences: ITGPEGQRLAGP (SEQ ID NO:7) EEIARARKSGQRVIGEPVAS (SEQ ID NO:5) and being further characterized by converting a compound of above formula to a compound of above formula, wherein R 2 is H and R 1 is different from H, with an ee-value of more than 93%. reacting at least one substrate of the general formula wherein R 1 and R 2 independently from each other are selected from: hydrogen; a linear or branched, optionally substituted, lower alkyl group; a linear or branched, optionally substituted, lower alkenyl group; an optionally substituted cyclic alkyl group; a mono- or polycyclic, optionally substituted aryl group; a mono- or polycyclic, optionally substituted heteroaryl group; a linear or branched, optionally substituted alkoxy group; an amino group; a linear or branched, optionally substituted alkylamino group; a linear or branched, optionally substituted alkylthio group; a linear or branched, optionally substituted acyl group, a carboxyl group or an aldehyde group; said substrate being present in stereoisomerically pure form or as a mixture of stereoisomers, wherein the stereoisomercally pure form or the mixture of stereoisomers may optionally be a salt, hydrogen; a linear or branched, optionally substituted, lower alkyl group; a linear or branched, optionally substituted, lower alkenyl group; an optionally substituted cyclic alkyl group; a mono- or polycyclic, optionally substituted aryl group; a mono- or polycyclic, optionally substituted heteroaryl group; a linear or branched, optionally substituted alkoxy group; an amino group; a linear or branched, optionally substituted alkylamino group; a linear or branched, optionally substituted alkylthio group; a linear or branched, optionally substituted acyl group, a carboxyl group or an aldehyde group; in the presence of at least one enzyme, catalyzing the hydrolytic cleavage of a hydantoin and/or dihydropyrimidin ring, so that a β-amino acid precursor of the general formula wherein R 1 and R 2 are identified as above, is produced; said process being characterized in that said at least one enzyme which is applied in said process is a hydantoinase and/or dihydropyrimidinase and is obtained from Vigna angularis and comprises at least one of the following partial sequences: ITGPEGQRLAGP (SEQ ID NO:7) EEIARARKSGQRVIGEPVAS (SEQ ID NO:5) ITGPEGQRLAGP (SEQ ID NO:7) EEIARARKSGQRVIGEPVAS (SEQ ID NO:5) and being further characterized by converting a compound of above formula to a compound of above formula, wherein R 2 is H and R 1 is different from H, with an ee-value of more than 93%.