Patent ID: 6960460

Claim:
An isolated esterase having the following characteristics: a) a molecular weight, determined by SDS-PAGE, of about 38 kilodaltons; b) an isoelectric point of 6.0; c) an optimum temperature of about 60° C.; d) an optimum pH of about 5 to about 7; e) capable of using asymetric hydrolysis of an organic carboxylic ester of a cyclopentenolone of formula (I): wherein, R 1 is hydrogen or methyl, and R 2 is C 1 -C 10 alkyl, C 2 -C 10 alkenyl, C 2 -C 10 alkynyl, C 1 -C 4 haloalkyl, a C 5 -C 9 aliphatic hydrocarbon moiety which may be optionally protected on the terminal hydroxyl group thereof, or a C 5 -C 9 fatty acid residue which may be optionally protected on the terminal carboxyl group thereof, in (R)-form and f) comprises an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2.