Introduction

There are basically two strategies for carrying out biotransformations: (1) to use pure or partially purified enzymes isolated by the investigator or purchased from a commercial supplier, or (2) to use whole cells. Enzymes are categorized by the Enzyme Commission (EC) according to their functions (Table 2.1), and each individual enzyme is given a unique code made up of four numbers, such as 2.1.2.4. These reference numbers are derived as follows:

The first number indicates the class (1 through 6; see Table 2.1).

The second number in the series indicates the subclass. For oxidoreductases, the subclass number indicates the type of group in the donor which undergoes oxidation (1 denoting a secondary alcohol group, 2 denoting an aldehyde or ketone unit, etc.); for transferases, it gives an indication of the functional group which is transferred (1 indicates the transfer of a one-carbon unit); for the hydrolases, it earmarks the functional group hydrolyzed (1 is used when an ester group is hydrolyzed); for the lyases, it indicates the group HX (3 indicates the addition of ammonia); for the isomerases, it shows the type of isomerization (2 indicates alkene cis-trans isomerization); for ligases, it indicates the type of bond formed (4 indicates carbon-carbon bond formation).

The third number in the series serves to allocate the enzyme to a sub-subclass. For oxidoreductase enzymes, this third number shows the type of acceptor involved [e.g. 1 denotes a co-enzyme, such as nicotinamideadenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP); 2 denotes a cytochrome; 3 denotes molecular oxygen].