Preparation and characterization of substrates suitable for the study of stereospecific secondary alkylsulphohydrolases of detergent-degrading micro-organisms
Matcham, G.W.; Dodgson, K.S.
Biochemical Journal 167(3): 717-722
1977
ISSN/ISBN: 0264-6021 PMID: 603632 DOI: 10.1042/bj1670717
Accession: 006171535
During the course of the purification of novel stereospecific secondary alkylsulfohydrolases present in certain degergent-degrading microorganisms, substrates prepared by sulfating secondary alcohols with H2SO4 are shown to be heterogeneous. Apart from the racemization that occurs if resolved alcohols are sulfated, evidence is provided to show that other isomers are produced where the position of the ester sulfate group on the alkyl chain was altered. These changes can be avoided if pyridine/SO3 reagent (prepared with SO3) is substituted as sulfating agent. Experiments in which secondary alkyl sulfates prepared by both method were tested as potential substrates for the 2 secondary alkylsulfohydrolase enzymes of Comamonas terrigena provided initial information about the specificity of the enzymes.