Preparation of beta-amino acids

A process for the biocatalytic production of a β-amino acid precursor, comprising:

• reacting at least one substrate of the general formula (I)
• wherein R1 and R2 independently from each other are selected from:
• hydrogen;
• a linear or branched, optionally substituted, lower alkyl group;
• a linear or branched, optionally substituted, lower alkenyl group;
• an optionally substituted cyclic alkyl group;
• a mono- or polycyclic, optionally substituted aryl group;
• a mono- or polycyclic, optionally substituted heteroaryl group;
• a linear or branched, optionally substituted alkoxy group;
• an amino group;
• a linear or branched, optionally substituted alkylamino group;
• a linear or branched, optionally substituted alkylthio group;
• a linear or branched, optionally substituted acyl group,
• a carboxyl group or
• an aldehyde group;
• said substrate being present in stereoisomerically pure form or as a mixture of stereoisomers, wherein the stereoisomerically pure form or the mixture of stereoisomers may optionally be a salt,
• in the presence of at least one enzyme, catalyzing the hydrolytic cleavage of a hydantoin and/or dihydropyrimidin ring,
• so that a β-amino acid precursor of the general formula (II)
• wherein R1 and R2 are identified as above,
• is produced;
• said process being characterized in that the at least one enzyme which is applied in said process is
• a) an enzyme having hydantoinase and /or dihyropyrimidinase activity which is obtained from Vigna angularis and comprising at least one of the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NO:
• 5 and SEQ ID NO:
• 7;
• or
• b) an enzyme having 1 to 20 amino acid additions, substitutions, deletions and/or inversions relative to the enzyme of a), wherein said enzyme comprises an amino acid sequence having at least 95% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:
• 5 or SEQ ID NO 7, and has hydantoinase and/or dihydropyrimidinase activity.