Patent ID: 8034595

Claim:
An isolated, synthetic or recombinant polypeptide having a hydrolase activity and comprising an amino acid sequence: (a) encoded by a nucleic acid having the sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 1; (b) encoded by a nucleic acid comprising a sequence having at least 95%, 97% or 99% or complete sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 1; (c) of the peptide as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2; (d) having at least 95%, 97% or 99% or complete sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:2; (e) of the polypeptide of any of (a) to (d) having a nitrilase activity; (f) of the polypeptide of (e) having a nitrilase activity comprising the ability to produce an enantiomerically pure α-substituted carboxylic acid, α-amino acid or α-hydroxy acid; (g) of the polypeptide of (e) having a nitrilase activity comprising the ability to stereoselectively hydrolyze a transient amino nitrile or cyanohydrin under Strecker conditions (in the presence of cyanide and ammonia); (h) comprising an enzymatically active fragment of the polypeptide of any of (a) to (g); (i) of the polypeptide of any of (a) to (h) further comprising an additional amino acid sequence; or (j) of the polypeptide of (i), wherein the additional amino acid sequence comprises or consists of a secretory sequence; a proprotein sequence; or, a sequence which facilitates purification, enrichment, or stabilization of the polypeptide.