Epoxide Hydrolases: Applications in Pharmacological and Synthetic Industry

Abstract

In the last two decades the exploitation of enzyme and microbes by synthetic as well as pharmaceutical industry has increased substantially. Epoxide hydrolase (EH) is an important enzyme widely used in kinetic resolution and synthesis of vicinal diol. This a highly attractive biocatalyst used in the formation of a single enantiomeric diol from a racemic oxirane. The microbial epoxide hydrolase hydrolyses substrates of various structural types. EHs are cofactor-independent enzymes that are easy to use for organic synthesis. Moreover, these enzymes are ubiquitous and not restricted to the mammalian world only. These are found in bacteria, yeast, fungi, plants and insects. There is a wide range of applications of EHs in pharmaceuticals as well as in clinical industry. EHs may enable the preparation of enantiopure epoxides in a very simple way starting from cheap and easily available racemic epoxides. This review covers the structure, mechanism of action and catalytic potential of EHs in pharmacological and synthetic industry.