Opposite Enantioselectivities of Two Phenotypically and Genotypically Similar Strains of <i>Pseudomonas frederiksbergensis</i> in Bacterial Whole-Cell Sulfoxidation

Abstract

Soil samples were screened to select microorganisms with the capability to oxidize organic sulfides into the corresponding sulfoxides with differential enantioselectivities. Several bacterial strains that preferentially produced the S-configured sulfoxide enantiomer were isolated. Surprisingly, one bacterial strain, genotypically and phenotypically characterized as Pseudomonas frederiksbergensis, selectively gave the R enantiomer. The finding that two apparently identical organisms displayed opposite enantioselectivities is novel for non-genetically modified organisms.