Nitrilase-catalyzed production of pyrazinoic acid, an antimycobacterial agent, from cyanopyrazine by resting cells of Rhodococcus rhodochrous J1.

Using resting cells of Rhodococcus rhodochrous J1, in which a large amount of nitrilase is induced, a simple and efficient bioconversion process for the production of pyrazinoic acid, an antimycobacterial agent, through catalysis by a nitrilase was developed. The reaction conditions for production of pyrazinoic acid were optimized. Under optimum conditions, 3.5 M cyanopyrazine was converted to pyrazinoic acid, with a molar conversion yield of 100%. The highest yield achieved corresponded to 434 g of pyrazinoic acid per liter of reaction mixture. The synthesized pyrazinoic acid was isolated and identified physico-chemically.