Abstract:
A new nitrilase producing strain showing high hydrolyzing activity towards 3-cyanopyridine was isolated
from the soil using enrichment technique. Microorganisms were enriched with glycerol as the carbon source and
nitriles as nitrogen source. Two different nitriles were used for screening, and it was found out and confirmed
that 8 strains isolated dependent on acetonitrile as nitrogen source, can produce arylacetonitrilases, two of which
showed 3-cyanopyridine hydrolysing activity; on the other hand, another two strains, compared with those former
strains, show exclusive identification towards 3-cyanopyridine, as well as producing aromatic nitrilase when
served with 3-cyanopyridine as nitrogen source. The one showing the higher activity towards 3-cyanopyridine is
identified as Rhodobacter sp., the capacity of which for producing nitrilase was first reported.