Transforming Carbonic Anhydrase into Epoxide Synthase by Metal Exchange

Abstract

Enantioselective epoxidation of styrene was observed in the presence of manganese-containing carbonic anhydrase as catalyst. The probable oxygen-transfer reagent is peroxymonocarbonate, which has a structural similarity with the hydrogenocarbonate substrate of the natural reaction. Styrene was chosen as the enzyme possesses a small hydrophobic cavity close to the active site.