Immobilized TAL biocatalyst for production of para-hydroxycinnamic acid

An immobilized tyrosine ammonia lyase biocatalyst comprising:

• a) a bacterial cell tolerant to para-hydroxycinnamic acid and alkaline pH and transformed with a genetic construct comprising a gene, the gene encoding a tyrosine ammonia lyase (TAL) enzyme selected from the group of TAL enzymes having TAL enzyme activity from Rhodotorula glutinis, Phanerochaete chrysosporium, Trichosporon cutaneum, Rhodobacter sphaeroides and mutagenized Rhodosporidium toruloides;
• and
• b) a cross-linked alginate bead prepared by a process in which glutaraldehyde is used at a final concentration of between about 2.5×10−4 g and about 6.3×10−3 g glutaraldehyde per gram of bead;
• wherein the bacterial cell is embedded in the alginate bead;
• and
• wherein the tyrosine ammonia lyase enzyme has an activity about 1.9 to about 8.0 measured as g pHCA produced/L/h per g dcw bead catalyst.