Chemoenzymatic synthesis of L-3, 4-dimethoxyphenyl-alanine and its analogues using aspartate aminotransferase as a key catalyst

In this study, a chemoenzymatic synthesis method for the production of L-3,4-dimethoxyphenyl-alanine and its analogues from phenylpyruvate derivatives was developed. The aspartate aminotransferase from Escherichia coli was engineered by error prone PCR and the improved variants were identified. When 3, 4-dimethoxy phenylpyruvate was added by fed-batch on a preparative scale, L-3,4-dimethoxyphenyl-alanine was formed in 95.4% conversion and > 99% ee with the best aspartate aminotransferase variant as the catalyst. This study provided an efficient method for the production of methoxy substituted phenylalanines using the engineered aspartate aminotransferase.