Alkylation of umbelliferone and nitrophenol with chloroacetone, 3-chlorobutanone, 2-chlorocyclopentanone and 2-chlorocyclohexanone gave the corresponding 2-coumaryloxy and 2-nitrophenoxy ketones. The 2-coumaryloxy ketones were used as fluorogenic substrates to detect Baeyer-Villiger monooxygenases activities of microbial cultures in highthroughput using microtiter plates. The 2-coumaryloxy ketones were oxidized by microorganisms producing Baeyer-Villiger monooxygenases (BVMO), releasing umbelliferone as a fluorescent signal. The substrates were also biotransformed by a microbial monooxygenase (Trichosporon cutaneum). Chemical Baeyer-Villiger oxidation of 2-coumaryloxy ketones using meta-chloroperbenzoic acid proceeded regioselectively to the corresponding acyloxyalkyl derivatives of umbelliferone and nitrophenol. These chiral lactones underwent a fluorogenic and chromogenic reaction upon hydrolysis by esterases, in particular pig liver esterase. Enantioselectivity of the ester hydrolysis reaction was determined by chiral-phase analysis of the unreacted lactones.

Reações de biocatálise foram realizadas em microplacas (200 µL) visando a utilização de substratos fluorogênicos (100 µmol L -1 ) para prospecção rápida de epóxido hidrolases (EHs) e Baeyer-Villiger monoxigenases (BVMOs) em microrganismos (células inteiras). Um protocolo final foi alcançado para EHs, com a detecção de 3 novas fontes enzimáticas (Agrobacterium tumefaciens, Pichia stipitis, Trichosporom cutaneum). O ensaio fluorogênico para BVMO não ocorreu como esperado. A abordagem de algumas variáveis envolvidas (aeração; pH) proporcionou a detecção inédita da atividade enzimática de BVM em T. cutaneum.Biocatalysis reactions were performed on microtiter plates (200 µL) aiming at the utilization of fluorogenic substrates (100 µmol L -1 ) for rapid whole cell screening for epoxide hydrolases (EHs) and Baeyer-Villiger monoxygenases (BVMOs). A final protocol was achieved for EHs, with 3 new enzymatic sources being detected (Agrobacterium tumefaciens, Pichia stipitis, Trichosporom cutaneum). The fluorogenic assay for BVMO did not work as expected. However, an approach to possible variables involved (aeration; pH) provided the first detection of a BVMO activity in T. cutaneum.

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