Purification and characterization of acetophenone reductase with excellent enantioselectivity from Geotrichum candidum NBRC 4597.

NADH-dependent enzyme reducing acetophenone derivatives with high stereoselectivities and wide substrate specificities from Geotrichum candidum NBRC 4597 was isolated, purified, characterized, and used for asymmetric synthesis. Through five-step purification including ammonium sulfate fractionation and a series of chromatographies, the enzyme was purified about 150-fold with a yield of 5.6%.