Enantioselective epoxide hydrolases and genes encoding these

An isolated polypeptide having enantioselective epoxide hydrolase activity, said polypeptide having a catalytic mechanism based on a catalytic triad formed by two aspartate and one histidine groups, as defined in FIG. 1 (SEQ ID NO:

• 2).

A method for producing an isolated polypeptide or a fragment thereof having epoxide hydrolase activity comprising the use of a microorganism being a representative of Agrobacterium spp and comprising a nucleic acid molecule encoding a polypeptide having enantioselective epoxide hydrolase activity, or a host cell for expression of a polypeptide or a fragment thereof having epoxide hydrolase activity.

A crude or pure enzyme preparation, comprising an isolated polypeptide or functional fragments thereof, having epoxide hydrolase activity, said polypeptide being derived from a host cell for expression of a polypeptide or a fragment thereof having epoxide hydrolase activity derived from Agrobacterium spp.

Method for stereoselectively converting racemic mixtures of optically active epoxides to diols which comprises reacting said mixture with an epoxide hydrolase obtained from a micro-organism which is a representative of Agrobacterium spp and comprising a nucleic acid molecule encoding a polypeptide having enantioselective epoxide hydrolase activity.

Method for stereoselectively converting racemic mixtures of optically active epoxides to diols which comprises reacting said mixture with a host cell for expression of a polypeptide or a fragment thereof having epoxide hydrolase activity derived from Agrobacterium spp.

Method for the preparation of enantiopure epoxides and diols which comprises contacting a racemic epoxide with an isolated microorganism which is a representative of Agrobacterium spp and comprising a nucleic acid molecule encoding a polypeptide having enantioselective epoxide hydrolase activity.