ISSN 1017-2548(Print)
ISSN 2234-8530(Online)
Volume 41, Number 9
JKCSEZ 41(9)
June 20, 1997 

The whole cells of Chromobacterium chocolatum was immobilized in the matrix of polyacrylamide and then used for the hydrolysis of dimethyl-cis-1,3-dibenzyl-2-oxoimidazolidine-4,5-dicarboxylate. This hydrolysis yielded the optically active monoester ( > 96% ee) which is useful as an synthetic intermediate of (+)-biotin. We have studied the optimum condition of hydrolysis by using immobilized cells under variable concentration of substrate, reaction time and pH levels. The activity of lipase in immobilized cell was retained for longer than 4 weeks. The best conversion yield of product was obtained when 2 g of wet cell was immobilized and then reacted with 200 mg of substrate at pH 7.