AU2013200739B2 - Nitrilases - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to nitrilases and to nucleic acids encoding the nitrilases. ln addition methods of designing new nitrilases and method of use thereof are also provided. The nitrilases have increased activity and stability at increased pH and temperature.

Description

P/0010111 Regulation 3. AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Invention Title: Nitrilases The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Application 5 No. 60/351,336, filed January 22, 2002, U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/3 09, 006, filed July 30, 2001, and U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/3 00,189, filed June 21, 2001; and is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 09/751,299, filed December 28, 2000, which claims the benefit of priority to each of U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/254,414, filed December 7, 2000, and U.S. 10 Provisional Application Serial No. 60/173,609, filed December 29, 1999. These applications are hereby incorporated by reference into the subject application in their entireties for all purposes. COPYRIGHT NOTIFICATION 15 Pursuant to 37 C.F.R. § 1.71(e), a portion of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. 20 FIELD OF THE iNVENTION The invention relates generally to the field of molecular biology, biochemistry and chemistry, and particularly to enzymatic proteins having nitrilase activity. The invention also relates to polynucleotides encoding the enzymes, and to uses of such 25 polynucleotides and enzymes. -2- BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION There are naturally occurring enzymes which have great potential for use in industrial chemical processes for the conversion of nitrites to a wide range of useful products and intermediates. Such enzymes include nitrilases which are capable of 5 converting nitriles directly to carboxylic acids. Nitrilase enzymes are found in a wide range ofmesophilic micro-organisms, including species of Bacillus, Norcardia, Bacteridium, Rhodococcus, Micrococcus, Brevibacteriurn, Alcaligenes, Acinetobacter, Corynebacterium, Fusarium and Klebsiella. Additionally, there are thermophilic nitrilases which exist in bacteria. 10 There are two major routes from a nitrile to an analogous acid: (1) a nitrilase catalyzes the direct hydrolysis of a nitrile to a carboxylic acid with the concomitant release of ammonia; or (2) a nitrile hydratase adds a molecule of water across the carbon-nitrogen bonding system to give the corresponding aide, which can then act as a substrate for an amidase enzyme which hydrolyzes the carbon-nitrogen bond to 15 give the carboxylic acid product with the concomitant release of ammonia. The nitrilase enzyme therefore provides the more direct route to the acid. A nitrile group offers many advantages in devising synthetic routes in that it is often easily introduced into a molecular structure and can be carried through many processes as a masked acid or aide group. This is only of use, however, if the nitrile 20 can be unmasked at the relevant step in the synthesis. Cyanide represents a widely applicable C 1 -synthon (cyanide is one of the few water-stable carbanions) which can be employed for the synthesis of a carbon framework. However, further transformations of the nitrile thus obtained are impeded due to the harsh reaction conditions required for its hydrolysis using normal chemical synthesis procedures. The use of enzymes to 25 catalyze the reactions of nitriles is attractive because nitrilase enzymes are able to effect reactions with fewer environmentally hazardous reagents and by-products than in many traditional chemical methods. Indeed, the chemoselective biocatalytic hydrolysis of nitriles represents a valuable alternative because it occurs at ambient temperature and near physiological pH. 30 The importance of asymmetric organic synthesis in drug design and discovery has fueled the search for new synthetic methods and chiral precursors which can be -3utilized in developing complex molecules of biological interest. One important class of chiral molecules are the a-substituted carboxylic acids, which include the a-amino acids. These molecules have long been recognized as important chiral precursors to a wide variety of complex biologically active molecules, and a great deal of research 5 effort has been dedicated to the development of methods for the synthesis of enantiomerically pure a-amino acids and chiral medicines. Of particular use to synthetic chemists who make chiral medicines would be an enzyme system which is useful under non-sterile conditions, which is useful in non biological laboratories, which is available in a form convenient for storage and use; 10 which has broad substrate specificity, which acts on poorly water soluble substrates; which has predictable product structure; which provides a choice of acid or amide product; and which is capable of chiral differentiation. Accordingly, there is a need for efficient, inexpensive, high-yield synthetic methods for producing enantiomerically pure a substituted carboxylic acids, such as, for example, a-amino acids and a-hydroxy acids. 15 Throughout this application, various publications are referenced by author and date. The disclosures of these publications in their entireties are hereby incorporated by reference into this application in order to more fully describe the state of the art as known to those skilled therein as of the date of the invention described and claimed herein. 20 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to an isolated nucleic acid comprising consecutive nucleotides having a sequence at least 50% identical to SEQ ID NO: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43, 45, 47, 49, 51, 25 53, 55, 57, 59, 61, 63, 65, 67, 69, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, 83, 85, 87, 89, 91, 93, 95, 97, 99, 101, 103, 105, 107, 109, 111, 113, 115, 117, 119, 121, 123, 125, 127, 129, 131, 133, 135, 137, 139, 141, 143, 145, 147, 149, 151, 153, 155, 157, 159, 161, 163, 165, 167, 169, 171, 173, 175, 177, 179, 181, 183, 185, 187, 189, 191, 193, 195, 197, 199, 201, 203, 205, 207, 209, 211, 213, 215, 217, 219, 221, 223, 225, 227, 229, 231, 30 233, 235, 237, 239, 241, 243, 245, 247, 249, 251, 253, 255, 257, 259, 261, 263, 265, 267, 269, 271, 273, 275, 277, 279, 281, 283, 285, 287, 289, 291, 293, 295, 297, 299, -4- 301, 303, 305, 307, 309, 311, 313, 315, 317, 319, 321, 323, 325, 327, 329, 331, 333, 335, 337, 339, 341, 343, 345, 347, 349, 351, 353, 355, 357, 359, 361, 363, 365, 367, 369, 371, 373, 375, 377, 379, 381, 383, or 385 wherein the nucleic acid encodes a polypeptide having nitrilase activity. In an embodiment of the invention, the nucleic 5 acid comprises consecutive nucleotides having a sequence at least 60 %, 70%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 98% or 100% identical to the SEQ ID NO. In an embodiment of the invention, the nucleic acid comprises consecutive nucleotides having a sequence substantially identical to the SEQ ID NO. In another embodiment, the invention provides for an isolated nucleic acid comprising consecutive nucleotides having a 10 sequence at least 79 % identical to SEQ ID NO: 33, wherein the nucleic acid encodes a polypeptide having nitrilase activity. The invention provides for a fragment of the nucleic acid, wherein the fragment encodes a polypeptide having nitrilase activity. The invention also provides for an isolated nucleic acid complementary to any of the nucleic acids. The invention also provides for an isolated nucleic acid that hybridizes 15 to any one of the nucleic acids under stringent conditions. In one embodiment, the stringent conditions comprise at least 50% formamide, and about 37 0 C to about 42 0 C. The invention provides for a nucleic acid probe comprising from about 15 nucleotides to about 50 nucleotides, wherein at least 15 consecutive nucleotides are at least 50% complementary to a nucleic acid target region within a nucleic acid sequence 20 of SEQ ID NO: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43, 45, 47, 49, 51, 53, 55, 57, 59, 61, 63, 65, 67, 69, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, 83, 85, 87, 89, 91, 93, 95, 97, 99, 101, 103, 105, 107, 109, 111, 113, 115, 117, 119, 121, 123, 125, 127, 129, 131, 133, 135, 137, 139, 141, 143, 145, 147, 149, 151, 153, 155, 157, 159, 161, 163, 165, 167, 169, 171, 173, 175, 177, 179, 181, 183, 185, 187, 189, 191, 25 193, 195, 197, 199, 201, 203, 205, 207, 209, 211, 213, 215, 217, 219, 221, 223, 225, 227, 229, 231, 233, 235, 237, 239, 241, 243, 245, 247, 249, 251, 253, 255, 257, 259, 261, 263, 265, 267, 269, 271, 273, 275, 277, 279, 281, 283, 285, 287, 289, 291, 293, 295, 297, 299, 301, 303, 305, 307, 309, 311, 313, 315, 317, 319, 321, 323, 325, 327, 329, 331, 333, 335, 337, 339, 341, 343, 345, 347; 349, 351, 353, 355, 357, 359, 361, 30 363, 365, 367, 369, 371, 373, 375, 377, 379, 381, 383, or 385. In one embodiment, the nucleic acid probe comprises consecutive nucleotides which are at least 55% -5complementary to the nucleic acid target region. In one embodiment, the invention provides for a nucleic acid probe, wherein the consecutive nucleotides are at least 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 97%, 98% or 100% complementary to the nucleic acid target region. In another embodiment, the nucleic acid consists 5 essentially of from about 20 to about 50 nucleotides. The invention provides for a nucleic acid vector capable of replication in a host cell, wherein the vector comprises the nucleic acid of the invention. The invention also provides for a host cell comprising the nucleic acid. The invention also provides for a host organism comprising the host cell. In one embodiment, the host organism 10 comprises a gram negative bacterium, a gram positive bacterium or a eukaryotic organism. In another embodiment, the gram negative bacterium comprises Escherichia coli, or Pseudomonasfluorescens. In a further embodiment, the gram positive bacterium comprises Streptomyces diversa, Lactobacillus gasseri, Lactococcus lactis, Lactococcus cremoris, or Bacillus subtilis. In a further 15 embodiment, the eukaryotic organism comprises Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Schizosaccharomyces pombe, Pichiapastoris, Kluyveromyces lactis, Hansenula plymorpha, or Aspergillus niger. The invention provides for an isolated nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide comprising consecutive amino acids having a sequence at least 50% identical to SEQ 20 ID NO:2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 62, 64, 66, 68, 70, 72, 74, 76, 78, 80, 82, 84, 86, 88, 90, 92, 94, 96, 98, 100, 102, 104, 106, 108, 110, 112, 114, 116, 118, 120, 122, 124, 126, 128, 130, 132, 134, 136, 138, 140, 142, 144, 146, 148, 150, 152, 154, 156, 158, 160, 162, 164, 166, 168, 170, 172, 174, 176, 178, 180, 182, 184, 186, 188, 190, 192, 25 194, 196, 198, 200, 202, 204, 206, 208, 210, 212, 214, 216, 218, 220, 222, 224, 226, 228, 230, 232, 234, 236, 238, 240, 242, 244, 246, 248, 250, 252, 254, 256, 258, 260, 262, 264, 266, 268, 270, 272, 274, 276, 278, 280, 282, 284, 286, 288, 290, 292, 294, 296, 298, 300, 302, 304, 306, 308, 310, 312, 314, 316, 318, 320, 322, 324, 326, 328, 330, 332, 334, 336, 338, 340, 342, 344, 346, 348, 350, 352, 354, 356, 358, 360, 362, 30 364, 366, 368, 370, 372, 374, 376, 378, 380, 382, 384 or 386 whereinthe polypeptide has nitrilase activity. In one embodiment, the polypeptide comprises consecutive -6amino acids having at least 60%, 70%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 98% or 100% identity to the SEQ ID NO. The invention also provides for an isolated nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide comprising at least 10 consecutive amino acids having a sequence identical to a portion 5 of an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 62, 64, 66, 68, 70, 72, 74, 76, 78, 80, 82, 84, 86, 88, 90, 92, 94, 96, 98, 100, 102, 104, 106, 108, 110, 112, 114, 116,118, 120, 122, 124, 126, 128, 130, 132, 134, 136, 138, 140, 142, 144, 146, 148, 150, 152, 154, 156, 158, 160, 162, 164, 166, 168, 170, 172, 174, 176, 178, 10 180, 182, 184, 186, 188, 190, 192, 194, 196, 198, 200, 202, 204, 206, 208, 210, 212, 214, 216, 218, 220, 222, 224, 226, 228, 230, 232, 234, 236, 238, 240, 242, 244, 246, 248, 250, 252, 254, 256, 258, 260, 262, 264, 266, 268, 270, 272, 274, 276, 278, 280, 282, 284, 286, 288, 290, 292, 294, 296, 298, 300, 302, 304, 306, 308, 310, 312, 314, 316, 318, 320, 322, 324, 326, 328, 330, 332, 334, 336, 338, 340, 342, 344, 346, 348, 15 350, 352, 354, 356, 358, 360, 362, 364, 366, 368, 370, 372, 374, 376, 378, 380, 382, 384 or 386. An isolated polypeptide comprising consecutive amino acids having a sequence at least 50% identical to SEQ ID NO:2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 62, 64, 66, 68, 70, 72, 20 74, 76, 78, 80, 82, 84, 86, 88, 90, 92, 94, 96, 98, 100, 102, 104, 106, 108, 110, 112, 114, 116, 118, 120, 122, 124, 126, 128, 130, 132, 134, 136, 138, 140, 142, 144, 146, 148, 150, 152, 154, 156, 158, 160, 162, 164, 166, 168, 170, 172, 174, 176, 178, 180, 182, 184, 186, 188, 190, 192, 194, 196, 198,200, 202, 204, 206, 208, 210, 212, 214, 216, 218, 220, 222, 224, 226, 228, 230, 232, 234, 236, 238, 240, 242, 244, 246, 248, 25 250, 252, 254, 256, 258, 260, 262, 264, 266, 268, 270, 272, 274, 276, 278, 280, 282, 284, 286, 288, 290, 292, 294, 296, 298, 300, 302, 304, 306, 308, 310, 312, 314, 316, 318, 320, 322, 324, 326, 328, 330, 332, 334, 336, 338, 340, 342, 344, 346, 348, 350, 352, 354, 356, 358, 360, 362, 364, 366, 368, 370, 372, 374, 376, 378, 380, 382, 384, or 386 wherein the polypeptide has nitrilase activity. In one embodiment of the 30 invention, the polypeptide comprises consecutive amino acids having a sequence at least 60%, 70%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 98% or 100% identical to the SEQ ID NO. -7- The invention provides an isolated nucleic acid comprising consecutive nucleotides having a sequence as set forth in any one of the following SEQ ID NOS:1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43, 45, 47, 49, 51, 53, 55, 57, 59, 61, 63, 65, 67, 69, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, 83, 85, 87, 89, 91, 93, 95, 5 97, 99, 101, 103, 105, 107, 109, 111, 113, 115, 117, 119, 121, 123, 125, 127,129, 131, 133, 135, 137, 139, 141, 143, 145, 147, 149, 151, 153, 155, 157, 159, 161, 163, 165, 167, 169, 171, 173, 175, 177, 179, 181, 183, 185, 187, 189, 191, 193, 195, 197, 199, 201, 203, 205, 207, 209, 211, 213, 215, 217, 219, 221, 223, 225, 227, 229, 231, 233, 235, 237, 239, 241, 243, 245, 247, 249, 251, 253, 255, 257, 259, 261, 263, 265, 10 267, 269, 271, 273, 275, 277, 279, 281, 283, 285, 287, 289, 291, 293, 295, 297, 299, 301, 303, 305, 307, 309, 311, 313, 315, 317, 319, 321, 323, 325, 327, 329, 331, 333, 335, 337, 339, 341, 343, 345, 347, 349, 351, 353, 355, 357, 359, 361, 363, 365, 367, 369, 371, 373, 375, 377, 379, 381, 383, or 385 (hereinafter referred to as "Group A nucleic acids"). The invention is also directed to nucleic acids having specified 15 minimum percentages of sequence identity to any of the Group A nucleic acids sequences. In another aspect, the invention provides a purified polypeptide comprising consecutive amino acid residues having a sequence as set forth in any one of the following SEQ ID NOS:2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 20 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 62, 64, 66, 68, 70, 72, 74, 76, 78, 80, 82, 84, 86, 88, 90, 92, 94, 96, 98, 100, 102, 104, 106, 108, 110, 112, 114, 116, 118, 120, 122, 124, 126, 128, 130, 132, 134, 136, 138, 140, 142, 144, 146, 148, 150, 152, 154, 156, 158, 160, 162, 164, 166, 168, 170, 172, 174, 176, 178, 180, 182, 184, 186, 188, 190, 192, 194, 196, 198, 200, 202, 204, 206, 208, 210, 212, 214, 216,218, 25 220, 222, 224, 226, 228, 230, 232, 234, 236, 238, 240, 242, 244, 246, 248, 250, 252, 254, 256, 258, 260, 262, 264, 266, 268, 270, 272, 274, 276, 278, 280, 282, 284, 286, 288, 290, 292, 294, 296, 298, 300, 302, 304, 306, 308, 310, 312, 314, 316, 318, 320, 322, 324, 326, 328, 330, 332, 334, 336, 338, 340, 342, 344, 346, 348, 350, 352, 354, 356, 358, 360, 362, 364, 366, 368, 370, 372, 374, 376, 378, 380, 382, 384 and 386 30 (hereinafter referred to as "Group B amino acid sequences"). The invention is also -8directed to purified polypeptides having specified minimum percentages of sequence identity to any of the Group B amino acid sequences. The invention provides for a fragment of the polypeptide which is at least 50 amino acids in length, and wherein the fragment has nitrilase activity. Furthermore, the 5 invention provides for a peptidomimetic of the polypeptide or a fragment thereof having nitrilase activity. The invention provides for a codon-optimized polypeptide or a fragment thereof, having nitrilase activity, wherein the codon usage is optimized for a particular organism or cell. Narum et aL Infect. Immun. 2001 Dec, 69(12):7250-3 describes codon-optimzation in the mouse system. Outchkourov et al. Protein Expr. 10 Purif 2002 Feb; 24(l):18-24 describes codon-optimization in the yeast system. Feng et al. Biochemistry 2000 Dec 19, 39(50):15399-409 describes codon-optimization in K coli. Humphreys et al. Protein Expr. Purif 2000 Nov, 20(2):252-64 describes how codon usage affects secretion in . coli. In one embodiment, the organism or cell comprises a gram negative bacterium, 15 a gram positive bacterium or a eukaryotic organism. In another embodiment of the invention, the gram negative bacterium comprises Escherichia coli, or Pseudomonas fluorescens. In another embodiment of the invention, the gram positive bacterium comprise Streptomyces diversa, Lactobacillus gasseri, Lactococcus lactis, Lactococcus cremoris, or Bacillus subtilis. In another embodiment of the invention, 20 the eukaryotic organism comprises Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Schizosaccharomyces pombe, Pichiapastoris, Kluyveromyces lactis, Hansenula plymorpha, or Aspergillus niger. In another aspect, the invention provides for a purified antibody that specifically binds to the polypeptide of the invention or a fragment thereof, having 25 nitrilase activity. In one embodiment, the invention provides for a fragment of the antibody that specifically binds to a polypeptide having nitrilase activity. The invention provides for an enzyme preparation which comprises at least one of the polypeptides of the invention, wherein the preparation is liquid or dry. The enzyme preparation includes a buffer, cofactor, or second or additional protein. In one 30 embodiment the preparation is affixed to a solid support. In one embodiment of the -9invention, the solid support can be a gel, a resin, a polymer, a ceramic, a glass, a microelectrode and any combination thereof. In another embodiment, the preparation can be encapsulated in a gel or a bead. The invention further provides for a composition which comprises at least one 5 nucleic acid of the invention which comprises at least one polypeptide of the invention or a fragment thereof, or a peptidomimetic thereof, having nitrilase activity, or any combination thereof The invention provides for a method for hydrolyzing a nitrile to a carboxylic acid comprising contacting the molecule with at least one polypeptide of the invention 10 or a fragment thereof, or a peptidonimetic thereof, having nitrilase activity, under conditions suitable for nitrilase activity. In one embodiment, the conditions comprise aqueous conditions. In another embodiment, the conditions comprise a pH of about 8.0 and/or a temperature from about 37* C to about 450 C. The invention provides for a method for hydrolyzing a cyanohydrin moiety or 15 an aminonitrile moiety of a molecule, the method comprising contacting the molecule with at least one polypeptide of the invention, or a fragment thereof, or a peptidomimetic thereof, having nitrilase activity, under conditions suitable for nitrilase activity. The invention provides for a method for making a chiral ci-hydroxy acid 20 molecule, a chiral amino acid molecule, a chiral Q-hydroxy acid molecule, or a chiral gamma-hydroxy acid molecule, the method comprising admixing a molecule having a cyanohydrin moiety or an aminonitrile moiety with at least one polypeptide having an amino acid sequence at least 50% identical to any one of the Group B amino acid sequences or a fragment thereof or a peptidomimetic thereof, having enantio-selective 25 nitrilase activity. In one embodiment, the chiral molecule is an (R)-enantiomer. In another embodiment, the chiral molecule is an (S)-enantiomer. In one embodiment of the invention, one particular enzyme can have R-specificity for one particular substrate and the same enzyme can have S-specificity for a different particular substrate. The invention also provides for a method for making a composition or an 30 intermediate thereof, the method comprising admixing a precursor of the composition -10or intermediate, wherein the precursor comprises a cyanohydrin moiety or an aminonitrile moiety, with at least one polypeptide of the invention or a fragment or peptidomimetic thereof having nitrilase activity, hydrolyzing the cyanohydrin or the aminonitrile moiety in the precursor thereby making the composition or the 5 intermediate thereof. In one embodiment, the composition or intermediate thereof comprises (S)-2-amino-4-phenyl butanoic acid. In a further embodiment, the composition or intermediate thereof comprises an L-amino acid. In a further embodiment, the composition comprises a food additive or a pharmaceutical drug. The invention provides for a method for making an (R)-ethyl 4-cyano-3 10 hydroxybutyric acid, the method comprising contacting a hydroxyglutaryl nitrile with at least one polypeptide having an amino acid sequence of the Group B amino acid sequences, or a fragment or peptidomimetic thereof having nitrilase activity that selectively produces an (R)-enantiomer, so as to make (R)-ethyl 4-cyano-3 hydroxybutyric acid. In one embodiment, the ee is at least 95% or at least 99%. In 15 another embodiment, the hydroxyglutaryl nitrile comprises 1,3-di-cyano-2-hydroxy propane or 3-hydroxyglutaronitrile. In a further embodiment, the polypeptide has an amino acid sequence of any one of the Group B amino acid sequences, or a fragment or peptidomimetic thereof having nitrilase activity. The invention also provides a method for making an (S)-ethyl 4-cyano-3 20 hydroxybutyric acid, the method comprising contacting a hydroxyglutaryl nitrile with at least one polypeptide having an amino acid sequence of the Group B amino acid sequences, or a fragment or peptidomimetic thereof having nitrilase activity that selectively produces an (S)-enantiomer, so as to make (S)-ethyl 4-cyano-3 hydroxybutyric acid. 25 The invention provides a method for making an (R)-mandelic acid, the method comprising admixing a mandelonitrile with at least one polypeptide having an amino acid sequence of any one of the Group B amino acid sequences or any fragment or peptidomimetic thereof having appropriate nitrilase activity. In one embodiment, the (R)-mandelic acid comprises (R)-2-chloromandelic acid. In another embodiment, the 30 (R)-mandelic acid comprises an aromatic ring substitution in the ortho-, meta-, or -11para- positions; a 1-naphthyl derivative of (R)-mandelic acid, a pyridyl derivative of (R)-mandelic acid or a thienyl derivative of (R)-mandelic acid or a combination thereof The invention provides a method for making an (S)-mandelic acid, the method comprising admixing a mandelonitrile with at least one polypeptide having an amino 5 acid sequence of Group B sequences or any fragment or peptidomimetic thereof having nitrilase activity. In one embodiment, the (S)-mandelic acid comprises (S) methyl benzyl cyanide and the mandelonitrile comprises (S)-methoxy-benzyl cyanide. In one embodiment, the (S)-mandelic acid comprises an aromatic ring substitution in the ortho-, meta-, orpara- positions; a 1-naphthyl derivative of (S)-mandelic acid, a 10 pyridyl derivative of (S)-mandelic acid or a thienyl derivative of (S)-mandelic acid or a combination thereof The invention also provides a method for making an (S)-phenyl lactic acid derivative or an (R)-phenyllactic acid derivative, the method comprising admixing a phenyllactonitrile with at least one polypeptide selected from the group of the Group B 15 amino acid sequences or any active fragment or peptidomimetic thereof that selectively produces an (S)-enantiomer or an (R)-enantiomer, thereby producing an (S)-phenyl lactic acid derivative or an (R)-phenyl lactic acid derivative. The invention provides for a method for making the polypeptide of the invention or a fragment thereof, the method comprising (a) introducing a nucleic acid 20 encoding the polypeptide into a host cell under conditions that permit production of the polypeptide by the host cell, and (b) recovering the polypeptide so produced. The invention provides for a method for generating a nucleic acid variant encoding a polypeptide having nitrilase activity, wherein the variant has an altered biological activity from that which naturally occurs, the method comprising (a) 25 modifying the nucleic acid by (i) substituting one or more nucleotides for a different nucleotide, wherein the nucleotide comprises a natural or non-natural nucleotide; (ii) deleting one or more nucleotides, (iii) adding one or more nucleotides, or (iv) any combination thereof In one embodiment, the non-natural nucleotide comprises inosine. In another embodiment, the method further comprises assaying the 30 polypeptides encoded by the modified nucleic acids for altered nitrilase activity, -12thereby identifying the modified nucleic acid(s) encoding a polypeptide having altered nitrilase activity. In one embodiment, the modifications of step (a) are made by PCR, error-prone PCR, shuffling, oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis, assembly PCR, sexual PCR mutagenesis, in vivo mutagenesis, cassette mutagenesis, recursive 5 ensemble mutagenesis, exponential ensemble mutagenesis, site-specific mutagenesis, gene reassembly, gene site saturated mutagenesis, ligase chain reaction, in vitro mutagenesis, ligase chain reaction, oligonuclteotide synthesis, any DNA-generating technique and any combination thereof In another embodiment, the method further comprises at least one repetition of the modification step (a). 10 The invention further provides a method for making a polynucleotide from two or more nucleic acids, the method comprising: (a) identifying regions of identity and regions of diversity between two or more nucleic acids, wherein at least one of the nucleic acids comprises a nucleic acid of the invention; (b) providing a set of oligonucleotides which correspond in sequence to at least two of the two or more 15 nucleic acids; and, (c) extending the oligonucleotides with a polymerase, thereby making the polynucleotide. The invention further provides a screening assay for identifying a nitrilase, the assay comprising: (a) providing a plurality of nucleic acids or polypeptides comprising at least one of the nucleic acids of the invention, or at least one of the polypeptides of the 20 invention; (b) obtaining polypeptide candidates to be tested for nitrilase activity from the plurality; (c) testing the candidates for nitrilase activity; and (d) identifying those polypeptide candidates which are nitrilases. In one embodiment, the method further comprises modifying at least one of the nucleic acids or polypeptides prior to testing the candidates for nitrilase activity. In another embodiment, the testing of step (c) 25 further comprises testing for improved expression of the polypeptide in a host cell or host organism. In a further embodiment, the testing of step (c) further comprises testing for nitrilase activity within a pH range from about pH 3 to about pH 12. In a further embodiment, the testing of step (c) further comprises testing for nitrilase activity within a pH range from about pH 5 to about pH 10. In another embodiment, 30 the testing of step (c) further comprises testing for nitrilase activity within a temperature range from about 4 *C to about 80 *C. In another embodiment, the -13testing of step (c) further comprises testing for nitrilase activity within a temperature range from about 4 *C to about 55 *C. In another embodiment, the testing of step (c) further comprises testing for nitrilase activity which results in an enantioselective reaction product. In another embodiment, the testing of step (c ) further testing for 5 nitrilase activity which results in a regio-selective reaction product. The invention provides for use of the nucleic acids of the invention, or a fragment or peptidomimetic thereof having nitrilase activity, in a process designed to optimize an aspect of the gene or an aspect of the polypeptide encoded by the gene. In one embodiment, the process comprises introducing modifications into the nucleotide 10 sequence of the nucleic acid. In another embodiment, the modifications are introduced by PCR, error-prone PCR, shuffling, oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis, assembly PCR, sexual PCR mutagenesis, in vivo mutagenesis, cassette mutagenesis, recursive ensemble mutagenesis, exponential ensemble mutagenesis, site-specific mutagenesis, gene reassembly, gene site saturated mutagenesis, ligase chain reaction, in vitro 15 mutagenesis, ligase chain reaction, oligonucleotide synthesis, any other DNA generating technique or any combination thereof In a further embodiment, the process is repeated. The invention provides for use of the polypeptide of the invention, or a fragment or peptidomimetic thereof having nitrilase activity, in an industrial process. 20 In one embodiment, the process is for production of a pharmaceutical composition, the process is for production of a chemical, the process is for production of a food additive, the process is catalyzing the breakdown of waste, or the process is production of a drug intermediate. In a further embodiment, the process comprises use of the polypeptide to hydrolyze a hydroxyglutarylnitrile substrate. In a further 25 embodiment, the process is for production of LIPITORTM. In another embodiment, the polypeptide used comprises a polypeptide having consecutive amino acids of the sequence SEQ ID NO:44, 196, 208, 210, or 238 or a fragment thereof having nitrilase activity. In another embodiment, the process is production of a detergent. In another embodiment, the process is production of a food product. -14- The invention provides for use of a nucleic acid of the invention, or a fragment thereof encoding a polypeptide having nitrilase activity, in the preparation of a transgenic organism. The invention provides for a kit comprising (a) the nucleic acid of the 5 inventions, or a fragment thereof encoding a polypeptide having nitrilase activity, or (b) the polypeptide of the invention, or a fragment or a peptidomirnetic thereof having nitrilase activity, or a combination thereof; and (c) a buffer. The invention provides for a method for modifying a molecule comprising: (a) mixing a polypeptide of the invention or a fragment or peptidomirnetic thereof having 10 nitrilase activity, with a starting molecule to produce a reaction mixture; (b) reacting the starting molecule with the polypeptide to produce the modified molecule. The invention provides for a method for identifying a modified compound comprising: (a) admixing a polypeptide of the invention, or a fragment or peptidominmetic thereof having nitrilase activity, with a starting compound to produce a 15 reaction mixture and thereafter a library of modified starting compounds; (b) testing the library to determine whether a modified starting compound is present within the library which exhibits a desired activity; (c) identifying the modified compound exhibiting the desired activity. The invention provides for a computer readable medium having stored thereon 20 at least one nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43, 45, 47, 49, 51, 53, 55, 57, 59, 61, 63, 65, 67, 69, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, 83, 85, 87, 89, 91, 93, 95, 97, 99, 101, 103, 105, 107, 109, 111, 113, 115, 117, 119, 121, 123, 125, 127, 129, 131, 133, 135, 137, 139, 141, 143, 145, 147, 149, 151, 153, 155, 157, 159, 161, 163, 25 165, 167, 169, 171, 173, 175, 177, 179, 181, 183, 185, 187, 189, 191, 193, 195, 197, 199, 201,.203, 205, 207, 209, 211, 213, 215, 217, 219, 221, 223, 225, 227, 229, 231, 233, 235, 237, 239, 241, 243, 245, 247, 249, 251, 253, 255, 257, 259, 261, 263, 265, 267, 269, 271, 273, 275, 277, 279, 281, 283, 285, 287, 289, 291, 293, 295, 297, 299, 301, 303, 305, 307, 309, 311, 313, 315, 317, 319, 321, 323, 325, 327, 329, 331, 333, 30 335, 337, 339, 341, 343, 345, 347, 349, 351, 353, 355, 357, 359, 361, 363, 365, 367, -15- 369, 371, 373, 375, 377, 379, 381, 383, and 385 and/or at least one amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 62, 64, 66, 68, 70, 72, 74, 76, 78, 80, 82, 84, 86, 88, 90, 92, 94, 96, 98, 100,102, 5 104, 106, 108, 110, 112, 114, 116, 118, 120,122, 124, 126, 128, 130, 132, 134, 136, 138, 140, 142, 144, 146, 148, 150, 152, 154, 156, 158, 160, 162, 164, 166, 168, 170, 172, 174, 176, 178, 180, 182, 184, 186, 188, 190, 192, 194, 196, 198, 200, 202, 204, 206, 208, 210, 212, 214, 216, 218, 220, 222,224, 226, 228, 230, 232,234, 236, 238, 240, 242, 244, 246, 248, 250, 252, 254, 256, 258, 260, 262, 264, 266, 268, 270, 272, 10 274, 276, 278, 280, 282, 284, 286, 288, 290, 292, 294, 296, 298, 300, 302, 304, 306, 308, 310, 312, 314, 316, 318, 320, 322, 324, 326, 328, 330, 332, 334, 336, 338, 340, 342, 344, 346, 348, 350, 352, 354, 356, 358, 360, 362, 364, 366, 368, 370, 372, 374, 376, 378, 380, 382, 384 and 386. The invention provides for a computer system comprising a processor and a data 15 storage device, wherein the data storage device has stored thereon at least one nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27,29, 31, 35, 37, 39, 41,43, 45, 47, 49, 51, 53, 55, 57, 59, 61, 63, 65, 67, 69, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, 83, 85, 87, 89, 91, 93, 95, 97, 99, 101, 103, 105, 107, 109, 111, 113, 115, 117, 119, 121, 123, 125, 127, 129, 131, 133, 20 135, 137, 139, 141, 143, 145, 147, 149, 151, 153, 155, 157, 159, 161, 163, 165, 167, 169, 171, 173, 175, 177, 179, 181, 183, 185, 187, 189, 191, 193, 195, 197,199,201, 203, 205, 207, 209, 211,213,215,217,219,221,223,225,227,229,231,233,235, 237, 239, 241, 243, 245, 247, 249, 251, 253, 255, 257, 259, 261, 263, 265, 267, 269, 271, 273, 275, 277, 279, 281, 283, 285, 287, 289, 291, 293, 295, 297, 299, 301, 303, 25 305, 307, 309, 311, 313, 315, 317, 319, 321, 323, 325, 327, 329, 331, 333, 335, 337, 339, 341, 343, 345, 347, 349, 351, 353, 355, 357, 359, 361, 363, 365, 367, 369, 371, 373, 375, 377, 379, 381, 383 and 385 and/or at least one amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 62, 64, 66, 68, 70, 30 72, 74, 76, 78, 80, 82, 84, 86, 88, 90, 92, 94, 96, 98, 100, 102, 104, 106, 108, 110, 112, 114, 116, 118, 120, 122, 124, 126, 128, 130, 132, 134, 136, 138, 140, 142, 144, -16- 146, 148, 150, 152, 154, 156, 158, 160, 162, 164, 166, 168, 170, 172, 174, 176, 178, 180, 182, 184, 186, 188, 190, 192, 194, 196, 198, 200, 202, 204, 206, 208, 210, 212, 214, 216, 218, 220, 222, 224, 226, 228, 230, 232, 234, 236, 238, 240, 242, 244, 246, 248, 250, 252, 254, 256, 258, 260, 262, 264, 266, 268, 270, 272, 274, 276, 278, 280, 5 282, 284, 286, 288, 290, 292, 294, 296, 298, 300, 302, 304, 306, 308, 310, 312, 314, 316, 318, 320, 322, 324, 326, 328, 330, 332, 334, 336, 338, 340, 342, 344, 346, 348, 350, 352, 354, 356, 358, 360, 362, 364, 366, 368, 370, 372, 374, 376, 378, 380, 382, 384 and 386. In one embodiment, the computer system further comprises a sequence comparison algorithm and a data storage device having at least one reference sequence 10 stored thereon. In another embodiment, the sequence comparison algorithm comprises a computer program that identifies polymorphisms. The invention provides for a method for identifying a feature in a sequence which comprises: (a) inputting the sequence into a computer; (b) running a sequence feature identification program on the computer so as to identify a feature within the 15 sequence; and (c) identifying the feature in the sequence, wherein the sequence comprises at least one of SEQ ID NOS:1-386 or any combination thereof. The invention provides for an assay for identifying a functional fragment of a polypeptide which comprises: (a) obtaining a fragment of at least one polypeptide of the invention; (b) contacting at least one fragment from step (a) with a substrate having 20 a cyanohydrin moiety or an aminonitrile moiety under reaction conditions suitable for nitrilase activity; (c) measuring the amount of reaction product produced by each at least one fragment from step (b); and (d) identifying the at least one fragment which is capable of producing a nitrilase reaction product; thereby identifying a functional fragment of the polypeptide. In one embodiment, the fragment of step (a) is obtained 25 by synthesizing the fragment. In another embodiment, the fragment of step (a) is obtained by fragmenting the polypeptides. The invention provides for an assay for identifying a functional variant of a polypeptide which comprises: (a) obtaining at least one variant of at least one polypeptide of the invention; (b) contacting at least one variant from step (a) with a substrate having a cyanohydrin moiety or an aminonitrile 30 moiety under reaction conditions suitable for nitrilase activity; (c) measuring the amount of reaction product produced by each at least one variant from step (b); and -17- (d) identifying the at least one variant which is capable of producing a nitrilase reaction product; thereby identifying a functional variant of the polypeptide. In particular, in one form of the invention there is provided an isolated, recombinant or synthetic nucleic acid comprising: 5 (a) a sequence comprising consecutive nucleotides having a sequence at least 60% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 385; (b) a sequence that hybridizes under stringent hybridization conditions to SEQ ID NO: 385, wherein the stringent hybridization conditions comprise a buffer comprising at least 50% formamide, and conditions comprising about 37 0 C to 10 about 42*C; (c) a sequence encoding SEQ ID NO:3 86, or enzymatically active fragments thereof; (d) - a sequence completely complementary to the sequence of (a), (b) or (c), wherein the nucleic acid of (a), (b) or (c) encodes a polypeptide having nitrilase activity. In another form of the invention, there is provided an isolated, recombinant or synthetic 15 polypeptide comprising consecutive amino acids having a sequence of at least 60% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 386, or a polypeptide encoded by a sequence of (a) or (b) above, wherein the polypeptide has nitrilase activity. In another form of the invention, there is provided a peptidomimetic of this polypeptide having nitrilase activity. In a further form of the invention, there is provided a computer system comprising a 20 processor, a data storage device and a sequence comparison algorithm wherein said data storage device has stored thereon at least one reference sequence and a first sequence comprising a nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 385 or an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 386, wherein the sequence comparison algorithm compares the first sequence to at least one reference sequence. - 17a- In another form of the invention there is provided an isolated, recombinant or synthetic nucleic acid comprising: (a) a sequence comprising consecutive nucleotides having a sequence which has at least 60% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 209; 5 (b) a sequence that hybridizes under stringent hybridization conditions to SEQ ID NO: 209, wherein the stringent hybridization conditions comprise a buffer comprising at least 50% formamide, and conditions comprising about 37*C to about 42 0 C; (c) a sequence encoding SEQ ID NO:210, or enzymatically active fragments thereof; 10 or, (d) a sequence completely complementary to the sequence of (a), (b) or (c), wherein the nucleic acid of (a), (b) or (c) encodes a polypeptide having nitrilase activity. In another form of the invention, there is provided an isolated, recombinant or synthetic polypeptide comprising consecutive amino acids having a sequence of at least 60% sequence 15 identity to SEQ ID NO: 210, or a polypeptide encoded by a sequence of (a) or (b) above, wherein the polypeptide has nitrilase activity. In another form of the invention, there is provided a peptidomimetic of this polypeptide having nitrilase activity. In another form of the invention there is provided an isolated, recombinant or synthetic nucleic acid comprising: (a) a sequence comprising consecutive nucleotides having a sequence at 20 least 90% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 189; (b) a sequence that hybridizes under stringent hybridization conditions to SEQ ID NO: 189, wherein the stringent hybridization conditions comprise a buffer comprising at least 50% formamide, and conditions comprising about 37"C to about 42 0 C; (c) a sequence encoding SEQ ID NO:190, or enzymatically active fragments thereof; or (d) a sequence completely complementary to the sequence of (a), (b) or (c), wherein 25 the nucleic acid of (a), (b) or (c) encodes a polypeptide having nitrilase activity. In another form of the invention there is provided an isolated, recombinant or synthetic polypeptide comprising: (a) consecutive amino acids having a sequence at least 90% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 190, (b) a polypeptide encoded by a sequence of claim 1(a) or 1(b), wherein the polypeptide has nitrilase activity. - 17b - In another form of the invention, there is provided an isolated, recombinant or synthetic nucleic acid comprising: (a) a sequence comprising consecutive nucleotides having a sequence at least 90% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 385; 5 (b) a sequence that hybridizes under stringent hybridization conditions to SEQ ID NO: 385, wherein the stringent hybridization conditions comprise a buffer comprising at least 50% formamide, and conditions comprising about 37*C to about 42*C; (c) a sequence encoding SEQ ID NO:386, or enzymatically active fragments thereof; 10 or (d) a sequence completely complementary to the sequence of (a), (b) or (c), wherein the nucleic acid of (a), (b) or (c) encodes a polypeptide having nitrilase activity. An isolated, recombinant or synthetic polypeptide comprising: (a) consecutive amino acids having a sequence at least 90% sequence identity to SEQ 15 ID NO: 386, (b) a polypeptide encoded by a sequence of claim 1(a) or 1(b), wherein the polypeptide has nitrilase activity. 17c 5 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 shows chemical reaction schemes wherein stereoselective nitrilases hydrolyze a cyanohydrin or an aminonitrile to produce a chiral a-hydroxy acid or a amino acid. Figure 2 illustrates an OPA based cyanide detection assay used for identifying 10 the presence of nitrilase activity. Figure 3 is an illustration of a spectroscopic system for the detection and quantification of a-hydroxy acids based on stereoselective lactate dehydrogenases. Figure 4 is an illustration of a spectroscopic system for the detection and quantification of a-amino acids based on stereoselective amino acid oxidase. 15 Figure 5 is a flow diagram illustrating the steps of a nitrilase screening method. Figures 6A-6E are chromatograms characteristic of the substrate and product combination for D-phenylglycine showing a blank sample (Fig. 6A), an enzymatic reaction sample (Fig. 6B); a negative control consisting of cell lysate in buffer (Fig. 6C); a chiral analysis of phenylglycine (Fig. 6D); and coelution of the nitrile peak with 20 the D-enantiomer (Fig. 6E). Figures 7A-7E illustrate chromatograms which are characteristic of substrate and product combinations for (R)-2-chloromandelic acid. Fig. 7A shows only 2 chloromandelonitrile in buffer; Fig. 7B shows a cloromandelic acid standard. The chromatogram in Fig. 7C shows the appearance of product and the reduction of 25 substrate peaks. Figures 8A-8B illustrate chromatograms characteristic of substrate and product combinations for (S)-phenyllactic acid. Figures 9A-9B illustrate chromatograms characteristic of substrate and product combinations for L- 2 -methylphenylglycine. -18- Figures 10A-1OC illustrate chromatograms characteristic of substrate and product combinations for L-tert-leucine. Figures 11A-11C illustrate chromatograms characteristic of substrate and product combinations for (S)-2-amino-6-hydroxy hexanoic acid. 5 Figures 12A-12D illustrate chromatograms characteristic of substrate and product combinations for 4-methyl-D-leucine and 4-methyl-L-leucine. Figures 13A-13B illustrate chromatograms characteristic of substrate and product combinations for (S)-cyclohexylmandelic acid. -19- DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to nitrilases, nucleic acids encoding nitrilases, and uses therefor. As used herein, the term "nitrilase' encompasses any polypeptide having 5 nitrilase activity, i.e., the ability to hydrolyze nitriles into their corresponding carboxylic acids and ammonia. Nitrilases have commercial utility as biocatalysts for use in the synthesis of enantioselective aromatic and aliphatic amino acids or hydroxy acids. Nitrilase chemistry is as follows: 10

R

2

R

1 nitrilase R 2 B1 R, B 2 CN + 3 COOH A nitrilase reaction for the preparation of hydroxy acids is as follows: OH OH OH R2 nitrilase R 2 or CN COOH COOH 15 A nitrilase reaction for the preparation of amino acids is as follows:

NH

2 NH 2 NH2 R2 nitrlase R2 R2 or

R

3 R 3 R CN COOH COOH In addition, in each of the foregoing hydrolysis reactions, two water molecules are consumed and one ammonia molecule is released. 20 There are several different types of assays which can be performed to test for the presence of nitrilase activity in a sample or to test whether a particular polypeptide exhibits nitrilase activity. For example, assays can detect the presence or absence of -20products or by-products from a chemical reaction catalyzed by a nitrilase. For example, the presence of nitrilase activity can be detected by the production of a hydroxy acids or a-amino acids from, respectively, cyanohydrins or aminonitriles, and the level of nitrilase activity can be quantified by measuring the relative quantities of 5 the reaction products produced. Figure 1 shows chemical reaction schemes using stereoselective nitrilases to create chiral a-hydroxy acids or a-amino acids in high yield. The starting material is an aldehyde or an imine which is produced from an aldehyde by reaction with ammonia. Reaction of the aldehyde or mine with hydrogen cyanide results in the production of enantiomeric mixtures of the corresponding 10 cyanohydrins and aminonitriles. A stereoselective nitrilase can then be used to stereoselectively convert one enantiomer into the corresponding a-hydroxy acid or a amino acid. Figure 3 illustrates schematically the stereoselective nitrilase-dependent production and spectrophotometric detection of a-hydroxy acids based on lactate dehydrogenase conversion of the a-hydroxy acids to the corresponding a-keto acids 15 and concomitant oxidation-reduction of a detectable dye. Figure 4 illustrates schematically the stereoselective nitrilase-dependent production and spectrophotometric detection of a-amino acids based on amino acid oxidase conversion of the a-amino acids to the corresponding a-keto acids and concomitant oxidation-reduction of a detectable dye. 20 Nitrilases contemplated for use in the practice of the present invention include those which stereoselectively hydrolyze nitriles or cyanohydrins into their corresponding acids and ammonia. Nitrilases include, for example, those set forth'in the Group B amino acid sequences). Some nitrilases which stereoselectively hydrolyze their substrates are set forth in the Tables hereinbelow. 25 The nitrilases of the invention share the following additional characteristics: (1) full-length amino acid sequences from about 333 amino acids to about 366 amino acids, (2) aggregation and activity as homo-multimers of about 2 subunits to about 16 subunits, (3) presence of a catalytic triad of the consecutive amino acids Glu-Lys-Cys, 30 (4) pH optima from about pH 5 to about pH 9, and (5) temperature optima from about 0*C to about 100*C, or from about 40 0 C to about 50 0 C. -21- Consensus Sequences Among New Nitrilases The nitrilases disclosed herein were studied using bioinformatics and sequence comparison programs and the following consensus information was collected. Three regions of conserved motifs were identified within the nitrilase polypeptides. These 5 correspond to the catalytic triad (E-K-C) present in nitrilase enzymes. (H. Pace and C. Brenner (Jan. 15, 2001) "The Nitrilase Superfamily: classification, structure and function" Genome Biology Vol. 2, No. 1, pp 1-9.) The abbreviations used herein are conventional one letter codes for the amino acids: A, alanine; B, asparagine or aspartic acid; C, cysteine; D aspartic acid; E, 10 glutamate, glutamic acid; F, phenylalanine; G, glycine; H histidine; I isoleucine; K, lysine; L, leucine; M, methionine; N, asparagine; P, proline; Q, glutamine; R, arginine; S, serine; T, threonine; V, valine; W, tryptophan; Y, tyrosine; Z, glutamine or glutamic acid. See L. Stryer, Biochemistry, 1988, W. H. Freeman and Company, New York. The computer sequence comparisons made among the nitrilase polypeptide 15 sequences of the invention resulted in the identification of these motifs within each amino acid sequence: F I IP I IE t R ._K L. P T L. CW h.<.P The following residues (those that are underlined) are completely conserved among all of the identified nitrilases: the third amino acid in the first motif or region (E, 20 glutamate); the second residue in the second motif (R, arginine); the third residue in the second motif (K, lysine); the third residue in the third motif (C, cysteine); and the fifth residue in the third motif (E, glutamate). In the boxes, upper case letters indicate 90% or greater consensus among the nitrilases of the invention, while lower case letters indicate 50% or greater consensus. 25 An italicized letter indicates 30% or greater consensus among the nitrilases of the invention. A dot ina box indicates a residue which is not conserved. The sequences of nitrilases in the nitrilase branch of the nitrilase superfamily were described as having a catalytic triad in the Pace and Brenner article (Genome Biology, 2001, Vol. 2, No. 1, pp. 1-9). However, the catalytic triad regions of the -22nitrilases of this invention differ from those previously identified in the Pace and Brenner reference in the following ways: Differences in the first motif: The F in the first box of the first motif is conserved in 90% of the nitrilases of the invention, rather than in only 50% of those 5 previously identified. The fourth residue of the first motif is a "t", threonine in the nitrilases of this invention, and it is found at 50% or greater consensus. However, that residue was identified by Pace and Brenner as "a" (alanine). The last residue of the first motif was identified as '' (phenylalanine) and was indicated to occur at 50% or greater consensus. However, the nitrilases of this invention only show "f' 10 (phenylalanine occurring at 30% consensus. Differences in the second motif: There is an "r" (arginine) in the first box of the second motif of the nitrilases of this invention. However, the Pace and Brenner consensus shows an "h" (histidine) in that position. The "R" (arginine) in the second box is completely conserved in the nitrilases of the present invention, however that 15 residue only appears at 90% consensus in the Pace and Brenner reference. The "L" (leucine) in the fourth box of the second motif is conserved in 90% or more of the nitrilases of this invention. However, the Pace and Brenner nitrilases only showed conservation of that residue in 50% of the sequences. Similarly, the "P' (proline) at the sixth box of the second motif is conserved in 90% or more of the nitrilases of this 20 invention. However, the Pace and Brenner nitrilases only showed conservation of that residue in 50% of the sequences. Differences in the third motif: The "L in the first box is conserved at 90% or greater in the nitrilases of the invention. However, the Pace and Brenner reference only shows that residue appearing 50% of the time. Finally, the sixth box in the third 25 motif in the nitrilases of the invention show a histidine 50% of the time or more. However, the Pace and Brenner reference indicates that that position shows an asparagine ("n") 50% of the time. The invention provides for an isolated polypeptide having nitrilase activity which polypeptide comprises three regions, wherein the first region comprises five 30 amino acids and wherein the first amino acid of the first region is F and the fourth -23amino acid of the first region is T. The invention also provides for an isolated polypeptide having nitrilase activity which polypeptide comprises three regions, wherein the second region comprises seven amino acids and wherein the first amino acid of the second region is R, wherein the second amino acid of the second region is P, and wherein the sixth amino acid 5 of the second region is P. The invention also provides for an isolated polypeptide having nitrilase activity which polypeptide comprises three regions, wherein the third region comprises nine amino acids and wherein the first amino acid of the third region is L and the sixth amino acid of the third region is H. The invention also provides for anisolated polypeptide having nitrilase activity which 10 polypeptide comprises three consensus subsequences, wherein the first consensus subsequence is FPETF (SEQ ID NO: 387), wherein the second consensus subsequence is RRKLXPT (SEQ ID NO: 388), and wherein the third consensus subsequence is LXCWEHXXP (SEQ ID NO: 389). The invention also provides for an isolated polypeptide having nitrilase activity which 15 polypeptide comprises three consensus subsequences, wherein the first consensus subsequence is FPEXX, wherein the second consensus subsequence is XRKLKPT, (SEQ ID NO: 390), and wherein the third consensus subsequence is LXCWEXXXP, (SEQ ID NO: 391). In accordance with the present invention, methods are provided for producing 20 enantiomerically pure a-substituted carboxylic acids. The enantiomerically pure a-substituted carboxylic acids produced by the methods of the present invention have the following structure: HOO\ E C* R I R2 -24 wherein:

R

1 # R 2 and R 1 and R 2 are otherwise independently -H, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, heteroaryl, cycloalkyl, or heterocyclic, wherein said substituents are lower alky, hydroxy, alkoxy, amino, mercapto, cycloalkyl, heterocyclic, aryl, heteroaryl, 5 aryloxy, or halogen or optionally R 1 and R 2 are directly or - 24aindirectly covalently joined to form a functional cyclic moiety, and E is -N(R,) 2 or OH, wherein each R, is independently -H or lower alkyl. As used herein, the term alkyll" refers to straight or branched chain or cyclic hydrocarbon groups of from 1 to 24 carbon atoms, including methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, 5 isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, tert-butyl, n-pentyl, n-hexyl, and the like. The term "lower alkyl" refers to monovalent straight or branched chain or cyclic radicals of from one to about six carbon atoms. As used herein, "alkenyl" refers to straight or branched chain or cyclic hydrocarbon groups having one or more carbon-carbon double bonds, and having in 10 the range of about 2 to about 24 carbon atoms. As used herein, "alkynyl" refers to straight or branched chain or cyclic hydrocarbon groups having at least one carbon-carbon triple bond, and having in the range of about 2 to about 24 carbon atoms. As used herein, "cycloalkyl" refers to cyclic hydrocarbon groups containing in 15 the range of about 3 to about 14 carbon atoms. As used herein, "heterocyclic" refers to cyclic groups containing one or more heteroatoms (e.g., N, 0, S, P, Se, B, etc.) as part of the ring structure, and having in the range of about 3 to about 14 carbon atoms. As used herein, "aryl" refers to aromatic groups (i.e., cyclic groups with 20 conjugated double-bond systems) having in the range of about 6 to about 14 carbon atoms. As used herein with respect to a chemical group or moiety, the term 'substituted" refers to such a group or moiety further bearing one or more non hydrogen substituents. Examples of such substituents include, without limitation, OXy 25 (e.g., in a ketone, aldehyde, ether, or ester), hydroxy, alkoxy (of a lower alkyl group), amino, thio, mercapto (of a lower alkyl group), cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl, heterocyclic, substituted heterocyclic, aryl, substituted aryl, heteroaryl, substituted heteroaryl, aryloxy, substituted aryloxy, halogen, trifluoromethyl, cyano, nitro, nitrone, amino, amido, -C(O)H, acyl, oxyacyl, carboxyl, carbamate, sulfonyl, sulfonamide, 30 sulfuryL and the like. -25- In preferred embodiments, the enantionierically pure a-substituted carboxylic acid produced by the methods of the present invention is an a-amino acid or a hydroxy acid. In some embodiments, the enantiomerically pure a-amino acid is D phenylalanine, D-phenylglycine, L-methylphenylglycine, L-tert-leucine, D-alanine, or 5 D-hydroxynorleucine ((S)-2-amino-6-hydroxy hexanoic acid), R-pantolactone, 2 chloromandelic acid, or (S)- or (R)-mandelic acid and the enantiomerically pure a hydroxy acid is (S)-cyclohexylmandelic acid. As used herein, a "small molecule" encompasses any molecule having a molecular weight from at least 25 Daltons. The term "about" is used herein to mean approximately, roughly, around, or in 10 the region of When the term "about" is used in conjunction with a numerical range, it modifies that range by extending the boundaries above and below the numerical values set forth. In general, the term "about" is used herein to modify a numerical value above and below the stated value by a variance of 20 percent up or down (higher or lower). 15 As used herein, the word "or" means any one member of a particular list and also includes any combination of members of that list. The phrase "nucleic acid" as used herein refers to a naturally occurring or synthetic oligonucleotide or polynucleotide, whether DNA or RNA or DNA-RNA hybrid, single-stranded or double-stranded, sense or antisense, which is capable of 20 hybridization to a complementary nucleic acid by Watson-Crick base-pairing. Nucleic acids of the invention can also include nucleotide analogs (e.g., BrdU), and non phosphodiester internucleoside linkages (e.g., peptide nucleic acid (PNA) or thiodiester linkages). In particular, nucleic acids can include, without limitation, DNA, RNA, cDNA, gDNA, ssDNA or dsDNA or any combination thereof In some 25 embodiments, a "nucleic acid" of the invention includes, for example, a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide as set forth in the Group B amino acid sequences, and variants thereof The phrase "a nucleic acid sequence" as used herein refers to a consecutive list of abbreviations, letters, characters or words, which represent nucleotides. In one embodiment, a nucleic acid can be a "probe" which is a relatively short nucleic acid, 30 usually less than 100 nucleotides in length. Often a nucleic acid probe is from about 50 -26nucleotides in length to about 10 nucleotides in length. A "target region" of a nucleic acid is a portion of a nucleic acid that is identified to be of interest. A "coding region" of a nucleic acid is the portion of the nucleic acid which is transcribed and translated in a sequence-specific manner to produce into a particular 5 polypeptide or protein when placed under the control of appropriate regulatory sequences. The coding region is said to encode such a polypeptide or protein. The term "gene" refers to a coding region operably joined to appropriate regulatory sequences capable of regulating the expression of the polypeptide in some manner. A gene includes untranslated regulatory regions of DNA (e.g., promoters, 10 enhancers, repressors, etc.) preceding (upstream) and following (downstream) the coding region (open reading frame, ORF) as well as, where applicable, intervening sequences (i.e., introns) between individual coding regions (i.e., exons). "Polypeptide" as used herein refers to any peptide, oligopeptide, polypeptide, gene product, expression product, or protein. A polypeptide is comprised of 15 consecutive amino acids. The term "polypeptide" encompasses naturally occurring or synthetic molecules. In addition, as used herein, the term "polypeptide" refers to amino acids joined to each other by peptide bonds or modified peptide bonds, e.g., peptide isosteres, and may contain modified amino acids other than the 20 gene-encoded amino acids. The 20 polypeptides can be modified by either natural processes, such as post-translational processing, or by chemical modification techniques which are well known in the art. Modifications can occur anywhere in the polypeptide, including the peptide backbone, the amino acid side-chains and the amino or carboxyl termini. It will be appreciated that the same type of modification can be present in the same or varying degrees at 25 several sites in a given polypeptide. Also a given polypeptide can have many types of modifications. Modifications include, without limitation, acetylation, acylation, ADP ribosylation, amidation, covalent cross-linking or cyclization, covalent attachment of flavin, covalent attachment of a heme moiety, covalent attachment of a nucleotide or nucleotide derivative, covalent attachment of a lipid or lipid derivative, covalent 30 attachment of a phosphytidylinositol, disulfide bond formation, demethylation, formation of cysteine or pyroglutamate, formylation, gamma-carboxylation, -27glycosylation, GPI anchor formation, hydroxylation, iodination, methylation, myristolyation, oxidation, pergylation, proteolytic processing, phosphorylation, prenylation, racemization, selenoylation, sulfation, and transfer-RNA mediated addition of amino acids to protein such as arginylation. (See Proteins - Structure and 5 Molecular Properties 2nd Ed., T.E. Creighton, W.H. Freeman and Company, New York (1993); Posttranslational Covalent Modification ofProteins, B.C. Johnson, Ed., Academic Press, New York, pp. 1-12 (1983)). As used herein, the term "amino acid sequence" refers to a list of abbreviations, letters, characters or words representing amino acid residues. 10 As used herein, the term "isolated" means that a material has been removed from its original environment. For example, a naturally-occurring polynucleotide or polypeptide present in a living animal is not isolated, but the same polynucleotide or polypeptide, separated from some or all of the coexisting materials in the natural system, is isolated. Such polynucleotides can be part of a vector and/or such 15 polynucleotides or polypeptides could be part of a composition, and would be isolated in that such a vector or composition is not part of its original environment. As used herein with respect to nucleic acids, the term "recombinant" means that the nucleic acid is covalently joined and adjacent to a nucleic acid to which it is not adjacent in its natural environment. Additionally, as used herein with respect to a 20 particular nucleic acid in a population of nucleic acids, the term "enriched" means that the nucleic acid represents 5% or more of the number of nucleic acids in the population of molecules. Typically, the enriched nucleic acids represent 15% or more of the number of nucleic acids in the population of molecules. More typically, the enriched nucleic acids represent 50%, 90% or more of the number of nucleic acids in the 25 population molecules. "Recombinant" polypeptides or proteins refer to polypeptides or proteins produced by recombinant DNA techniques, i.e., produced from cells transformed by an exogenous recombinant DNA construct encoding the desired polypeptide or protein. "Synthetic" polypeptides or proteins are those prepared by chemical synthesis (e.g., 30 solid-phase peptide synthesis). Chemical peptide synthesis is well known in the art (see, e.g., Merrifield (1963), Am. Chem. Soc. 85:2149-2154; Geysen et al. (1984), -28- Proc. NatIl. A cad. Sct, USA 81:3998) and synthesis kits and automated peptide synthesizer are commercially available (e.g., Cambridge Research Biochemicals, Cleveland, United Kingdom; Model 431 A synthesizer from Applied Biosystems, Inc., Foster City, CA). Such equipment provides ready access to the peptides ofthe 5 invention, either by direct synthesis or by synthesis of a series of fragments that can be coupled using other known techniques. As used herein with respect to pairs of nucleic acid or amino acid sequences, "identity" refers to the extent to which the two sequences are invariant at positions within the sequence which can be aligned. The percent identity between two given 10 sequences can be calculated using an algorithm such as BLAST (Altschul et al. (1990), J MoL Biol 215:403-410). See www. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Education/BLASTinfo. When using the BLAST algorithm for sequences no longer than 250 nucleotides or about 80 amino acids ("short queries"), the search parameters can be as follows: the filter is off, the scoring matrix is PAM30, the word size is 3 or 2, the E value is 1000 or more, and 15 the gap costs are 11, 1. For sequences longer than 250 nucleotides or 80 amino acid residues, the default search parameters can be used. The BLAST website provides advice for special circumstances which is to be followed in such circumstances. As used herein, "homology" has the same meaning as "identity" in the context of nucleotide sequences. However, with respect to amino acid sequences, "homology" 20 includes the percentage of identical and conservative amino acid substitutions. Percentages of homology can be calculated according to the algorithms of Smith and Waterman (1981), Adv. Apple Math. 2:482. As used herein in the context of two or more nucleic acid sequences, two sequences are "substantially identical" when they have at least 99.5% nucleotide 25 identity, when compared and aligned for maximum correspondence, as measured using the known sequence comparison algorithms described above. In addition, for purposes of determining whether sequences are substantially identical, synonymous codons in a coding region may be treated as identical to account for the degeneracy of the genetic code. Typically, the region for determination of substantial identity must span at least 30 about 20 residues, and most commonly the sequences are substantially identical over at least about 25-200 residues. -29- As used herein in the context of two or more amino acid sequences, two sequences are "substantially identical" when they have at least 99.5% identity, when compared and aligned for maximum correspondence, as measured using the known sequence comparison algorithms described above. In addition, for purposes of 5 determining whether sequences are substantially identical, conservative amino acid substitutions may be treated as identical -if the polypeptide substantially retains its biological function. "Hybridization" refers to the process by which a nucleic acid strand joins with a complementary strand through hydrogen bonding at complementary bases. 10 Hybridization assays can be sensitive and selective so that a particular sequence of interest can be identified even in samples in which it is present at low concentrations. Stringent conditions are defined by concentrations of salt or formamide in the prehybridization and hybridization solutions, or by the hybridization temperature, and are well known in the art. Stringency can be increased by reducing the concentration 15 of salt, increasing the concentration of formamide, or raising the hybridization temperature. In particular, as used herein, "stringent hybridization conditions" include 42 0 C in 50% formamide, 5X SSPE, 0.3% SDS, and 200 ng/ml sheared and denatured salmon sperm DNA, and equivalents thereof Variations on the above ranges and conditions are well known in the art 20 The term "variant" refers to polynucleotides or polypeptides of the invention modified at one or more nucleotides or amino acid residues (respectively) and wherein the encoded polypeptide or polypeptide retains nitrilase activity. Variants can be produced by any number of means including, for example, error-prone PCR, shuffling, oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis, assembly PCR, sexual PCR mutagenesis, in vivo 25 mutagenesis, cassette mutagenesis, recursive ensemble mutagenesis, exponential ensemble mutagenesis, site-specific mutagenesis, gene reassembly, gene site-saturated mutagenesis or any combination thereof Methods of making peptidomimetics based upon a known sequence is described, for example, in U.S. Patent Nos. 5,631,280; 5,612,895; and 5,579,250. Use 30 of peptidomimetics can involve the incorporation of a non-amino acid residue with non-amide linkages at a given position. One embodiment of the present invention is a -30peptidomimetic wherein the compound has a bond, a peptide backbone or an amino acid component replaced with a suitable mimic. Examples of unnatural amino acids which may be suitable amino acid mimics include p-alanine, L-c-amino butyric acid, L y-anino butyric acid, L-c-amino isobutyric acid, L-s-amino caproic acid, 7-amino 5 heptanoic acid, L-aspartic acid, L-glutamic acid, N-s-Boc-N-a-CBZ-L-lysine, N-8 Boc-N-a-Fmoc-L-lysine, L-methionine sulfone, L-norleucine, L-norvaline, N-a-Boc N-aCBZ-L-ornithine, N-6-Boc-N-a-CBZ-L-ornithine, Boc-p-nitro-L-phenylalanine, Boc-hydroxyproline, Boc-L-thioproline. As used herein, "small molecule" encompasses a molecule having a molecular 10 weight from about 20 Daltons to about 1.5 kiloDaltons. The molecular biological techniques, such as subcloning, were performed using routine methods which would be well known to one of skill in the art. (Sambrook, I Fritsch, EF, Maniatis, T. (1989) Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual (2nd ed.), Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Plainview NY.). 15 Table 2 includes the SEQ ID NOS, the Closest Hit (BLAST) Organism, the Closest Hit (BLAST) percentage amino acid identity and the percent nucleotide identity for the nitrilases of the present invention. SEQ ID Top Public Public Public Public Public iPublic Length Public NO: Public Protein Nucleotide of SEQ Seque E-Value Definition Organism EC ID NO. nce H it Number % % (# of Identity Identity Amino Lengt Acids) h 1, 2 gi115229 0.'00000 nitrilase 1 Arabidop N/A 20 N/A 312 346 934ref[ 006 [Arabidop sis NP_190 sis thaliana 017.11 thaliana]. Eukaryot a 3, 4 gil14211 8E-56 nitrilase- Brassica N/A 41 51 326 350 396|gb like napus AAK57 protein Eukaryot 436.1[ [Brassica a napus]. -31- 5, 6 giJ15143 e-113 unnamed unidentifi N/A 62 67 334 346 035lemb protein ed ICAC50 product unclassifi 776.11 [unidentifi ed. ed]. 7,8 gi174359 9E-63 nitrilase Nicotiana 3.5.5.1 41 50 332 348 80|pirIT (EC tabacum. 03739 3.5.5.1) Eukaryot 4B - a common tobacco. 9, 10 g1174359 IE-55 nitrilase Nicotiana 3.5.5.1 39 48 314 348 80|pir|T (EC tabacum 03739 3.5.5.1) Eukaryot 4B - a common tobacco. 11, 12 gil15795 5E-42 unnamed Rhodoco N/A 32 46 321 366 659[emb protein ccus ICAC88 product rhodochr 237.11 [Rhodoco ous ccus Bacteria rhodochro us]. 13, 14 gi[15143 e-109 unnamed unidentifi N/A 62 66 337 346 035|emb protein ed ICAC50 product unclassifi 776.11 [unidentifi ed. ed]. 15, 16 gi115143 e-131 unnamed unidentifi N/A 65 64 348 346 035[emb protein ed ICAC50 product unclassifi 776.11 [unidentifi ed. ed]. 17, 18 gij74359 e-100 nitrilase Synechoc 3.5.5.1 52 58 330 346 78|pir||S (EC ystis sp. 77025 3.5.5.1) - Bacteria Synechoc ystis sp. (strain PCC -32- 6803). 19, 20 gill5143 e-107 unnamed unidentifi N/A 55 60 349 346 035|emb protein ed ICAC50 product unclassifi 776.11 [unidentifi ed. ed]. 21, 22 gil15143 e-l 11 unnamed unidentifi N/A 59 63 354 346 035|emb protein ed ICAC50 product unclassifi 776.11 [unidentifi ed. ed]. 23, 24 gil74359 e-101 nitrilase Synechoc 3.5.5.1 55 57 334 346 78IpirlIS (EC ystis sp. 77025 3.5.5.1)- Bacteria Synechoc ystis sp. (strain PCC 6803). 25, 26 gil48355 2E-50 nitrilase- Oryza N/A 38 48 312 362 88ldbjiB like sativa AA7767 protein Eukaryot 9.11 [Oryza a sativa]. 27, 28 gil15242 4E-62 Nitrilase 4 Arabidop N/A 38 N/A 351 355 205|refl (sp sis NP_197 P46011) thaliana 622.11 [Arabidop Eukaryot sis a thaliana]. 29, 30 gil15143 e-106 unnamed unidentifi N/A 61 66 338 346 035jemb protein ed ICAC50 product unclassifi 776.11 [unidentifi ed. ed]. 31,32 gi]14211 3E-51 nitrilase- Brassica N/A 38 49 310 350 3961gbl like napus AAKS7 protein Eukaryot 436.11 [Brassica a -33napus]. 33,34 gi]15143 e-150 unnamed unidentifi N/A 80 78 341 346 035|emb protein ed ICAC50 product unclassifi 776.11 [unidentifi ed. ed]. 35,36 gi115902 0.00000 Beta- Streptoc N/A 21 41 313 291 8671ref| 002 alanine occus NP_358 synthase pneumon 417.11 or beta- iae R6 ureidopro Bacteria pionase [Streptoco ccus pneumonia ae R6]. 37,38 gi115143 2E-56 unnamed unidentifi N/A 39 47 330 337 037jemb protein ed ICAC50 product unclassifi 777.11 [unidentifi ed. ed]. 39, 40 gil74359 1E-97 nitrilase Synechoc 3.5.5.1 50 58 335 346 78 [pir[IS (EC ystis sp. 77025 3.5.5.1) - Bacteria Synechoc ystis Sp. (strain PCC 6803). 41,42 gi66248 2E-60 nitrilase 2 Arabidop N/A 41 52 321 339 86|emb| [Arabidop sis CAA68 sis thaliana 934.31 thaliana]. Eukaryot a 43, 44 gil74359 8E-96 nitrilase Synechoc 3.5.5.1 51 58 330 346 78IpirIS (EC ystis Sp. 77025 3.5.5.1) - Bacteria Synechoc ystis sp. (strain PCC -34- 6803). 45, 46 gil48355 6E-54 nitrilase- Oryza N/A 39 51 331 362 88IdbjlB like sativa AA7767 protein Eukaryot 9.11 [Oryza a sativa]. 47, 48 gil15143 e-146 unnamed unidentifi N/A 74 68 337 337 037|emb protein ed ICAC50 product unclassifi 777.11 [unidentifi ed. ed]. 49, 50 gi[74359 e-106 nitrilase Synechoc 3.5.5.1 59 58 345 346 78lpirl|S (EC ystis sp. 77025 3.5.5.1) - Bacteria Synechoc ystis sp. (strain PCC 6803). 51, 52 gij75109 5E-47 probable Caenorha 3.5.5.1 36 48 298 305 01|pirllT nitrilase bditis 27679 (EC elegans 3.5.5. 1) Eukaryot ZK1058.6 a Caenorha bditis elegans. 53, 54 gil74359 5E-61 nitrilase Nicotiana 3.5.5.1 41 51 317 348 80|pirlIT (EC tabacum 03739 3.5.5.1) Eukaryot 4B - a common tobacco. 55, 56 gil15143 e-111 unnamed unidentifi N/A 60 67 338 346 035lemb protein ed ICAC50 product unclassifi 776.11 [unidentifi ed. ed]. -35- 57, 58 gil15143 e-146 unnamed unidentifi N/A 74 68 337 337 037Iemb protein ed ICAC50 product unclassifi 777.11 [uridentifi ed. ed]. 59, 60 gij22940 9E-50 unnamed unidentifi N/A 35 49 328 354 Ollembi protein ed CAA02 product unclassifi 248.11 [unidentifi ed. ed]. 61, 62 gil15795 2E-43 unnamed Rhodoco N/A 33 46 321 366 659[emb protein ccus |CAC88 product rhodochr 237.11 [Rhodoco ous ccus Bacteria rhodochro us]. 63, 64 gil48355 6E-67 nitrilase- Oryza N/A 44 51 325 362 88[dbjIB like sativa AA7767 protein Eukaryot 9.11 [Oryza a sativa]. 65, 66 gij39141 5E-63 NITRILA Nicotiana N/A 43 49 333 349 631sp1Q4 SE 4. tabacum 2965|N Eukaryot RL4_T a OBAC 67, 68 gil15242 1E-50 Nitrilase 4 Arabidop N/A 39 N/A 311 355 205|ref] (sp sis NP_197 P46011) thaliana 622.11 [Arabidop Eukaryot Sis a thaliana]. 69, 70 gil74359 2E-55 nitrilase Nicotiana 3.5.5.1 43 48 312 348 80|pir|lT (EC tabacum 03739 3.5.5.1) Eukaryot 4B - a common tobacco. -36- 71, 72 gi174359 2E-58 nitrilase Nicotiana 3.5.5.1 39 52 321 348 801pir[JT (EC tabacurn 03739 3.5.5.1) Eukaryot 4B - a cornon tobacco. 73, 74 gil15229 2E-53 nitrilase 1 Arabidop N/A 34 N/A 344 346 9 3 41refi [Arabidop sis NP_190 sis thaliana 017.1[ thaliana]. Eukaryot a 75, 76 gi174359 4E-98 nitrilase Synechoc 3.5.5.1 48 50 374 346 78Ipir|IS (EC ystis sp. 77025 3.5.5.1) - Bacteria Synechoc ystis sp. (strain PCC 6803). 77, 78 gil 15242 8E-62 Nitrilase 4 Arabidop N/A 38 N/A 351 355 205 Iref| (sp sis NP_197 P46011) thaliana 622.11 [Arabidop Eukaryot sis a thaliana]. 79, 80 gi[74359 5E-54 nitrilase Nicotiana 3.5.5.1 38 46 329 348 80pirlIT (EC tabacurn 03739 3.5.5.1) Eukaryot 4B - a connon tobacco. 81, 82 gil74359 3E-94 nitrilase Synechoc 3.5.5.1 51 56 330 346 78|pirIS (EC ystis sp. 77025 3.5.5.1)- Bacteria Synechoc ystis sp. (strain PCC 6803). 83, 84 gil74359 e-114 nitrilase Synechoc 3.5.5.1 61 59 356 346 78Ipir|jS (EC ystis sp. 3'5.5.1) -37- 77025 Synechoc Bacteria ystis sp. (strain PCC 6803). 85, 86 giJ15143 e-115 unnamed unidentifi N/A 63 66 337 346 035[emb protein ed |CAC50 product unclassifi 776.11 [unidentifi ed. ed]. 87, 88 gi114699 3E-54 nitrilase 2. Arabidop N/A 36 46 353 339 12|gbjA sis AB0522 thaliana 0.11 Eukaryot a 89, 90 gi115242 SE-62 Nitrilase 4 Arabidop N/A 41 N/A 305 355 205refl (sp sis NP_197 P46011) thaliana 622.11 [Arabidop Eukaryot sis a thaliana]. 91, 92 gil14211 6E-58 nitrilase- Brassica N/A 35 50 312 350 396|gb| like napus AAK57 protein Eukaryot 436.11 [Brassica a napus]. 93, 94 gil74359 e-112 nitrilase Synechoc 3.5.5.1 60 61 325 346 781pirl1S (BC ystis sp. 77025 3.5.5.1) - Bacteria Synechoc ystis sp. (strain PCC 6803). 95, 96 gil66248 1E-60 nitrilase 2 Arabidop N/A 42 53 321 339 86]emb [Arabidop sis CAA68 sis thaliana 934.31 thaliana]. Eukaryot a 97, 98 gil15143 e-109 unnamed unidentifi N/A 62 67 338 346 035lemb protein ed -38- ICAC50 product unclassifi 776.11 [unidentifi ed. ed]. 99, gil74359 e-123 nitrilase Synechoc 3.5.5.1 62 61 337 346 100 78[pirIS (EC ystis sp. 77025 3.5.5.1) - Bacteria Synechoc ystis sp. (strain PCC 6803). 101, gil15143 e-121 unnarned unidentifi N/A 62 66 354 346 102 035lemb protein ed ICAC50 product unclassifi 776.11 [unidentifi ed. ed]. 103, gi115143 2E-41 unnamed unidentifi N/A 34 49 314 337 104 037Iemb protein ed ICAC50 product unclassifi 777.11 [unidentifi ed. ed]. 105, gil74359 1E-97 nitrilase Synechoc 3.5.5.1 54 58 324 346 106 78|pirIS (EC ystis sp. 77025 3.5.5.1) - Bacteria Synechoc ystis sp. (strain PCC 6803). 107, gil74359 e-113 nitrilase Synechoc 3.5.5.1 61 61 326 346 108 78IpirilS (EC ystis sp. 77025 3.5.5.1) - Bacteria Synechoc ystis sp. (strain PCC 6803). 109, gil74359 e-113 nitrilase Synechoc 3.5.5.1 55 57 363 346 110 78|pirIS (EC ystis sp. 77025 3.5.5.1) - Bacteria Synechoc ystis sp. -39- (strain PCC 6803). 111, gij74359 e-121 nitrilase Synechoc 3.5.5.1 64 61 329 346 112 78[pirlIS (EC ystis sp. 77025 3.5.5.1)- Bacteria Synechoc ystis Sp. (strain PCC 6803). 113, gil15162 4E-09 AGRpA Plasrnid N/A 26 47 330 600 114 360gb1 T_799p Agrobact AAK90 [Agrobact erium 913.1 erium tumefacie tunefacie ns ns]. Bacteria 115, gil74359 e-115 nitrilase Synechoc 3.5.5.1 59 61 330 346 116 78|pirIS (EC ystis sp. 77025 3.5.5.1)- Bacteria Synechoc ystis, sp. (strain PCC 6803). 117, gil74359 e-106 nitrilase Synechoc 3.5.5.1 64 64 318 346 118 78|pir|(S (EC ystis sp. 77025 3.5.5.1) - Bacteria Synechoc ystis sp. (strain PCC 6803). 119, gill5795 IE-40 unnamed Rhodoco N/A 30 49 327 366 120 659emb protein ccus |CAC88 product rhodochr 237.11 [Rhodoco ous ccus Bacteria rhodochro us]. -40- 121, gil15229 1E-45 nitrilase2Arabidop N/A 30 N/A 385 339 122 932|ref| [Arabidop sis NP_190 sis thaliana 016.11 thaliana}. Eukaryot a 123, gil14211 9E-52 nitrilase- Brassica N/A 35 51 329 350 124 396|gb like napus AAKS7 protein Eukaryot 436.11 [Brassica a napus}. 125, gij7435_9 e-125 nitrilase Synechoc 3.5.5.1 63 61 349 346 126 78IpirIlS (EC ystis sp. 77025 3.5.5.1)- Bacteria Synechoc ystis sp. (strain PCC 6803). 127, gil74359 e-117 nitrilase Synechoc 3.5.5.1 61 60 334 346 128 78Ipir[IS (EC ystis sp. 77025 3.5.5.1)- Bacteria Synechoc ystis sp. (strain PCC 6803). 129, giJ74359 e-125 nitrilase Synechoc 3.5.5.1 64 63 336 346 130 78|pirlIS (EC ystis sp. 77025 3.5.5.1) - Bacteria Synechoc ystis sp. (strain PCC 6803). 131, gil74359 e-125 nitrilase Synechoc 3.5.5.1 63 63 336 346 132 78]pir||S (EC ystis sp. 77025 3.5.5.1) - Bacteria Synechoc ystis sp. (strain PCC 6803). -41- 133, gi[74359 e-120 nitrilase Synechoc 3.5.5.1 63 60 341 346 134 78|pirllS (EC ystis sp. 77025 3.5.5.1) - Bacteria Synechoc ystis sp. (strain PCC 6803). 135, gij74359 e-124 nitrilase Synechoc 3.5.5.1 64 63 336 346 136 78IpirIS (EC ystis sp. 77025 3.5.5.1) - Bacteria Synechoc ystis sp. (strain PCC 6803). 137, gi[74359 e-102 nitrilase Synechoc 3.5.5.1 54 56 325 346 138 78|pirIlIS (EC ystis sp. 77025 3.5.5.1) - Bacteria Synechoc ystis sp. (strain PCC 6803). 139, -gi115143 e-123 unnamed unidentifi N/A 65 63 332 337 140 037lemb protein ed ICAC50 product unclassifi 777.11 [unidentifi ed. ed]. 141, gil15143 3E-49 unnamed unidentifi N/A 32 47 341 337 142 037Ienb protein ed [CAC50 product unclassifi 777.11 [unidentifi ed. ed]. 143, gil15143 8E-55 unnamed unidentifi N/A 30 44 373 337 144 037[emb protein ed [CAC50 product unclassifi 777.11 [unidentifi ed, ed]. 145, gi[15143 e-110 unnamed unidentifi N/A 58 63 337 346 146 035|emb protein ed ICAC50 product unclassifi -42- 776.11 [unidentifi ed. ed]. 147, gil15143 2E-52 unnamed unidentifi N/A 33 42 365 337 148 037Iemb protein ed ICAC50 product unclassifi 777.11 [unidentifi ed. ed]. 149, gil15229 5E-63 nitrilase 2 Arabidop N/A 43 N/A 313 339 150 932ref[ [Arabidop sis NP_190 sis thaliana 016.11 thaliana]. Eukaryot a 151, gil74359 6E-96 nitrilase Synechoc 3.5.5.1 51 58 330 346 152 78pir[IS (EC ystis sp. 77025 3.5.5.1)- Bacteria Synechoc ystis sp. (strain PCC 6803). 153, gil74359 7E-46 nitrilase Synechoc 3.5.5.1 31 44 357 346 154 78|pirlIS (EC ystis sp. 77025 3.5.5.1)- Bacteria Synechoc ystis sp. (strain PCC 6803). 155, gil15143 e-101 unnamed unidentifi N/A 60 66 346 346 156 035lemb protein ed ICAC50 product unclassifi 776.11 [unidentifi ed. ed]. 157, gi174359 3E-99 nitrilase Synechoc 3.5.5.1 52 55 336 346 158 78[pir||S (EC ystis sp. 77025 3.5.5.1)- Bacteria Synechoc ystis sp. (strain PCC 6803). -43- 159, gi174359 7E-52 nitrilaseNicotiana 3.5.5.1 41 52 309 348 160 80pir|IT (EC tabacurn 03739 3.5.5.1) Eukaryot 4B - a common tobacco. 161, gi174359 e-111 nitrilase Synechoc 3.5.5.1 58 60 335 346 162. 7 8pirIS (EC ystis sp. 77025 3.5.5.1)- Bacteria Synechoc ystis sp. (strain PCC 6803). 163, gil74359 e-101 nitrilase Synechoc 3.5.5.1 57 58 325 346 164 78[pirJS (EC ystis sp. 77025 3.5.5.1)- Bacteria Synechoc ystis sp. (strain PCC 6803). 165, giJ15143 e-108 unnamed unidentifi N/A 63 65 335 346 166 035emb protein ed ICAC50 product unclassifi 776.1| [unidentifi ed. ed]. 167, giJ15143 e-111 unnamed unidentifi N/A 61 66 338 346 168 035|emb protein ed ICAC50 product unclassifi 776.11 [unidentifi ed. ed]. 169, gij15143 e-122 unnamed unidentifi N/A 60 65 358 346 170 035|emb protein ed ICAC50 product unclassifi 776.11 [unidentifi ed. ed]. 171, gi166248 9E--61 nitrilase 2 Arabidop N/A 38 48 336 339 172 86Iemb [Arabidop sis CAA68 sis thaliana 934.31 thaliana]. Eukaryot -44a 173, gi]74359 e-101 nitrilase Synechoc 3.5.5.1 54 56 330 346 174 78]pirlS (EC ystis sp. 77025 3.5.5.1) - Bacteria Synechoc ystis sp. (strain PCC 6803). 175, gil15143 2E-52 unnamed unidentifi N/A 39 49 314 337 176 037lemb protein ed ICAC50 product unclassifi 777.11 [unidentifi ed. ed]. 177, gi115795 9E-41 unnamed Rhodoco N/A 32 50 315 366 178 659emb protein ccus ICAC88 product rhodochr 237.11 [Rhodoco ous ccus Bacteria rhodochro us]. 179, gil74359 3E-53 nitrilase Nicotiana 3.5.5.1 38 46 304 348 180 80|pirIT (EC tabacum 03739 3.5.5.1) Eukaryot 4B - a common tobacco. 181, gil74359 e-121 nitrilase Synechoc 3.5.5.1 64 61 329 346 182 78pirIS (EC ystis sp. 77025 3.5.5.1)- Bacteria Synechoc ystis sp. (strain PCC 6803). 183, giI74359 e-118 nitrilase Synechoc 3.5.5.1 63 63 333 346 184 78[pirlIS (EC ystis sp. 77025 3.5.5.1) - Bacteria Synechoc ystis sp. (strain -45- PCC 6803). 185, giI15143 e-110 unnamed unidentifi N/A 60 67 338 346 186 035jemb protein ed ICAC50 product unclassifi 776.11 [unidentifi ed. ed}. 187, gil15143 e-l 13 unnamed unidentifi N/A 59 62 352 346 188 035|emb protein ed ICAC50 product unclassifi 776.11 [unidentifi ed. ed]. 189, gil15143 e-.01 unnamed unidentifi N/A 56 61 334 346 190 035|emb protein ed ICAC50 product unclassifi 776.11 [unidentifi ed. ed]. 191, gil15242 6E-56 Nitrilase 4 Arabidop N/A 37 N/A 314 355 192 205|refl (sp sis NP_197 P46011) thaliana 622.11 [Arabidop Eukaryot sis a thaliana]. 193, gil74359 3E-58 nitrilase Nicotiana 3.5.5.1 39 51 321 348 194 80|pir|lT (EC tabacurn 03739 3.5.5.1) Eukaryot 4B - a common tobacco. 195, gil74359 5E-89 nitrilase Synechoc 3.5.5.1 50 57 330 346 196 78lpir[IS (EC ystis sp. 77025 3.5.5.1) - Bacteria Synechoc ystis sp. (strain PCC 6803). 197, gi15143 c-110 unnamed unidentifi N/A 65 68 338 346 198 035|emb protein ed ICAC50 product unclassifi [unidentifi -46- 776.]l ed]. ed. 199, gil11266 1E-58 nitrilase 1 Arabidop N/A 38 N/A 330 346 200 289|pir|| - sis T49147 Arabidops thaliana is thaliana. Eukaryot a 201, gil48355 5E-50 nitrilase- Oryza N/A 39 49 309 362 202 88jdbjJB like sativa AA7767 protein Eukaryot 9.11 [Oryza a sativa]. 203, gil74359 4E-57 nitrilase Nicotiana 3.5.5.1 39 50 321 348 204 80pir|IT (EC tabacum 03739 3.5.5.1) Eukaryot 4B - a common tobacco. 205, gil74359 1E-99 nitrilase Synechoc 3.5.5.1 55 56 322 346 206 78IpirIS (EC ystis sp. 77025 3.5.5.1) - Bacteria Synechoc ystis sp. (strain PCC 6803). 207, gil74359 5E-59 nitrilase Nicotiana 3.5.5.1 40 51 321 348 208 80lpirl[T (EC tabacum 03739 3.5.5.1) Eukaryot 4B - a common tobacco. 209, gi[74359 2E-95 nitrilase Synechoc 3.5.5.1 53 55 330 346 210 78|pirlS (EC ystis sp. 77025 3.5.5.1) - Bacteria Synechoc ystls sp. (strain PCC 6803). 211, gil15143 e-117 unnamed unidentifi N/A 64 67 353 346 035[emb protein ed -47- 212 ICAC50 product unclassifi 776.1! [unidentifi ed. ed]. 213, gil74359 e-101 nitrilase Synechoc 3.5.5.1 53 57 330 346 214 78|pir|IS (EC ystis sp. 77025 3.5.5.1)- Bacteria Synechoc ystis Sp. (strain PCC 6803). 215, gi115143 e-114 unnamed unidentifi N/A 62 61 335 346 216 035lemb protein ed ICAC50 product unclassifi 776.11 [unidentifi ed. ed]. 217, gi!15143 e-115 unnamed unidentifi N/A 58 62 336 346 218 035lemb protein ed ICAC50 product unclassifi 776.11 [unidentifi ed. ed]. 219, gij74359 e-101 nitrilase Synechoc 3.5.5.1 53 59 331 346 220 78[pirI[S (EC ystis sp. 77025 3.5.5.1)- Bacteria Synechoc ystis sp. (strain PCC 6803). 221, gil41738 e-122 ALIPHAT Rhodoco N/A 58 62 381 383 222 21sp1Q02 IC ccus 0681NR NlTRILA rhodochr LiRH SE. ous ORH Bacteria 223, gil74359 3E-94 nitrilase Synechoc 3.5.5.1 51 56 331 346 224 78[pirIS (EC ystis sp. 77025 3.5.5.1) - Bacteria Synechoc ystis sp. (strain PCC -48- 6803). 225, gil74359 6E-99 nitrilase Synechoc 3.5.5.1 53 57 316 346 226 78jpir[IS (EC ystis sp. 77025 3.5.5.1) - Bacteria Synechoc ystis sp. (strain PCC 6803). 227, gi[74359 e-121 nitrilase Synechoc 3.5.5.1 62 60 344 346 228 781pirIS (EC ystis sp. 77025 3.5.5.1)- Bacteria Synechoc ystis sp. (strain PCC 6803). 229, gil75109 3E-48 probable Caenorha 3.5.5.1 36 48 324 305 230 Olipir[iT nitrilase bditis 27679 (EC elegans 3.5.5.1) Eukaryot ZK1058.6 a . Caenorha bditis elegans. 231, gil15143 e-125 unnamed unidentifi N/A 63 65 353 346 232 035|emb protein ed ICAC50 product unclassifi 776.11 [unidentifi ed. ed]. 233, gij74359 e-101 nitrilase Synechoc 3.5.5.1 54 55 333 346 234 78lpirIlIS (EC ystis sp. 77025 3.5.5.1)- Bacteria Synechoc ystis sp. (strain PCC 6803). -49- 235, gij74359 1E-90 aitrilase Synechoc 3.5.5.1 51 57 330 346 236 78IpirIS (EC ystis sp. 77025 3.5.5.1) - Bacteria Synechoc ystis sp. (strain PCC 6803). 237, gi174359 7E-97 nitrilase Synechoc 3.5.5.1 53 56 330 346 238 78|pirIS (EC ystis sp. 77025 3.5.5.1) - Bacteria Synechoc ystis sp. (strain PCC 6803). 239, gij74359 8E-59 nitrilase Nicotiana 3.5.5.1 40 50 322 348 240 801pirilT (EC tabacum 03739 3.5.5.1) Eukaryot 4B - a common tobacco. 241, gi166248 8E-59 nitrilase 2 Arabidop N/A 40 50 323 339 242 86Iembi [Arabidop sis CAA68 sis thaliana 934.31 thaliana]. Eukaryot a 243, gil15143 2E-51 unnamed unidentifi N/A 38 47 332 337 244 03 7jemb protein ed ICAC50 product unclassifi 777.11 [unidentifi ed. ed]. 245, gil66248 5E-56 nitrilase 2 Arabidop N/A 38 50 332 339 246 86lembl [Arabidop sis CAA68 sis thaliana 934.31 thaliana]. Eukaryot a 247, gil74359 9E-61 nitrilase Nicotiana 3.5.5.1 42 49 329 348 248 80pirlIlT (EC tabacum 03739 3.5.5.1) Eukaryot 4B - a common -50tobacco. 249, gil1514 3 e-1 13 unnamed unidentifi N/A 62 67 338 346 250 035lemb protein ed jCAC50 product unclassifi 776.11 [unidentifi ed. ed]. 251, gi]74359 e-100 nitrilase Synechoc 3.5.5.1 55 57 325 346 252 78IpirlIS (EC ystis sp. 77025 3.5.5.1) - Bacteria Synechoc ystis sp. (strain PCC 6803). 253, gil74359 1E-56 nitrilase Nicotiana 3.5.5.1 40 51 307 348 254 80lpirliT (EC tabacum 03739 3.5.5.1) Eukaryot 4B - a common tobacco. 255, giJ15229 4E-63 nitrilase 3 Arabidop N/A 40 N/A 334 346 256 936refJ [Arabidop Sis NP_190 sis thaliana 018.11 thaliana]. Eukaryot a 257, gij48355 6E-51 nitrilase- Oryza N/A 38 48 313 362 258 88[dbjIB like sativa AA7767 protein Eukaryot 9.11 [Oryza a sativa]. 259, gi7 4 359 e-113 nitrilase Synechoc 3.5.5.1 60 61 326 346 260 78IpirIS (EC ystis sp. 77025 3.5.5.1) - Bacteria Synechoc ystis sp. (strain PCC 6803). 261, gil15143 e-114 unnamed unidentifi N/A 62 67 337 346 035[emb protein ed -51- 262 |CAC50 product unclassifi 776.11 [unidentifi ed. ed]. 263, gil74359 9E-98 nitrilase Synechoc 3.5.5.1 53 54 337 346 264 781pirIIS (EC ystis sp. 77025 3.5.5.1)- Bacteria Synechoc ystis sp. (strain PCC 6803). 265, gil14590 8E-17 hypothetic Pyrococc N/A 21 34 332 262 266 532refl al protein us NP_142 [Pyrococc horikoshi 600.11 us i Archaea horiko shii 267, gil15143 e-102 . unnamed unidentifi N/A 53 64 345 346 268 035[emb protein ed ICAC50 product unclassifi 776.11 [unidentifi ed. ed]. 269, gil15143 8E-97 unnamed unidentifi N/A 57 61 337 346 270 035lemb protein ed ICAC50 product unclassifi 776.11 [unidentifi ed. ed]. 271, gil15229 3E-59 nitrilase 1 Arabidop N/A 41 N/A 321 346 272 934ref[ [Arabidop sis NP_190 sis thaliana 017.11 thaliana]. Eukaryot a 273, gij74359 e-141 nitrilase Synechoc 3.5.5.1 69 67 340 346 274 78IpirIIS (EC ystis sp. 77025 3.5.5.1)- Bacteria Synechoc ystis sp. (strain PCC 6803). -52- 275, gil74359 8E-42 nitrilase Nicotiana 3.5.5.1 35 48 282 348 276 80lpirLiT (EC tabacum 03739 3.5.5.1) Eukaryot 4B - a common tobacco. 277, gil15242 4E-62 Nitrilase 4Arabidop N/A 38 N/A 351 355 278 205|refi . (sp sis NP_197 P46011) thaliana 622.11 [Arabidop Eukaryot sis a thaliana]. 279, gil15143 e-102 unnamed unidentifi N/A 57 63 337 346 280 035[emb protein ed ICAC50 product unclassifi 776.11 [unidentifi ed. ed]. 281, gil75109 5E-55 probable Caenorha 3.5-5.1 39 46 311 305 282 OljpirjjT nitrilase bditis 27679 (EC elegans 3.5.5.1) Eukaryot ZK1058.6 a Caenorha bditis elegans. 283, gil15143 e-111 unnamed unidentifi N/A 61 66 338 346 284 035|emb protein ed ICAC50 product unclassifi 776.11 [unidentifi ed. ed]. 285, gi[15242 1E-64 Nitrilase 4 Arabidop N/A 44 N/A 305 355 286 2051ref[ (sp sis NP_197 P46011) thaliana 622.11 [Arabidop Eukaryot sis a thaliana]. 287, gi166248 2E-55 nitrilase 2 Arabidop N/A 39 51 311 339 288 86Iemb] [Arabidop sis CAA68 sis thaliana 934.31 thaliana]. Eukaryot -53a 289, gil48355 3E-58 nitrilase- Oryza N/A 43 51 306 362 290 88]dbjlB like sativa AA7767 protein Eukaryot 9.11 [Oryza a sativa]. 291, gij15143 e-123 unnamed unidentifi N/A 64 63 333 337 292 037Iemb protein ed |CAC50 product unclassifi 777.11 [unidentifi ed. ed]. 293, gi[16331 IE-97 nitrilase Synechoc N/A 50 N/A 335 346 294 918refl [Synechoc ystis sp. NP_442 ystis sp. PCC 646.11 PCC 6803 6803]. Bacteria 295, gil15229 6E-35 nitrilase 2 Arabidop N/A 27 N/A 377 339 296 9321ref| [Arabidop sis NP_190 sis thaliana 016.11 thaliana]. Eukaryot a 297, gil15143 3E-44 unnamed unidentifi N/A 34 47 352 337 298 037Iemb protein ed ICAC50 product unclassifi 777.11 [unidentifi ed. ed]. 299, gil16331 e-103 nitrilase Synechoc N/A 56 N/A 328 346 300 918|refl [Synechoc ystis sp. NP_442 ystis sp. PCC 646.11 PCC 6803 6803]. Bacteria 301, gil74359 6E-57 nitrilase Nicotiana 3.5.5.1 37 46 335 348 302 80pir|IT (EC tabacum 03739 3.5.5.1) Eukaryot 4B- a common tobacco. 303, gill5143 e-112 unnamed unidentifi N/A 60 59 336 346 0351emb protein ed -54- 304 ICAC50 product unclassifi 776.11 [unidentifi ed. ed]. 305, gi[15143 e-121 unnamed unidentifi N/A 59 N/A 355 346 306 035[emb protein ed ICAC50 product unclassifi 776.11 [unidentifi ed. ed]. 307, gil74359 5E-61 nitrilase Nicotiana 3.5.5.1 43 50 313 348 308 80|pirliT (EC tabacum 03739 3.5.5.1) Eukaryot 4B- a common tobacco. 309, gij41738 IE-43 ALIPHAT Rhodoco N/A 34 53 316 383 310 2]spQ02 IC ccus 068|NR NITRILA rhodochr LiRH SE. ous ORH Bacteria 311, gi[16331 e-126 nitrilase Synechoc N/A 64 N/A 336 346 312 918refl [Synechoc ystis sp. NP_442 ystis sp. PCC 646.11 PCC 6803 6803]. Bacteria 313, gil15143 1E-49 unnamed unidentifi N/A 36 50 328 346 314 035lemb protein ed |CAC50 product unclassifi 776.11 [unidentifi ed. ed]. 315, gil15229 4E-64 nitrilase 3 Arabidop N/A 42 N/A 319 346 316 9361refl [Arabidop sis NP_190 sis thaliana 018.1 thaliana]. Eukaryot a 317, gi[16331 e-102 nitrilase Synechoc N/A 54 N/A 330 346 318 918refl [Synechoc ystis sp. NP_442 ystis sp. PCC 646.11 PCC 6803 6803]. Bacteria -55- 319, gi116331 e-118 nitrilase Synechoc N/A 62 N/A 338 346 320 918|ref [Synechoc ystis sp. NP_442 ystis sp. PCC 646.11 PCC 6803 6803]. Bacteria 321, gi[16331 e-100 nitrilase Synechoc N/A 53 N/A 330 346 322 918lref [Synechoc ystis sp. NP_442 ystis sp. PCC 646.11 PCC 6803 6803]. Bacteria 323, gil15229 3E-52 nitrilase 3 Arabidop N/A 42 N/A 316 346 324 9361refi [Arabidop sis NP_190 sis thaliana 018.11 thaliana]. Eukaryot a 325, gi[16331 e-121 nitrilase Synechoc N/A 64 N/A 358 346 326 918iref [Synechoc ystis sp. NP_442 ystis sp. PCC 646.11 PCC 6803 6803]. Bacteria 327, gil75109 5E-40 probable Caenorha 3.5.5.1 30 46 324 305 328 01|pirlIT nitrilase bditis 27679 (EC elegans 3.5.5.1) Eukaryot ZK1058.6 a Caenorha bditis elegans. 329, gil16331 e-113 nitrilase Synechoc N/A 60 N/A 340 346 330 918refi [Synechoc ystis sp. NP_442 ystis sp. PCC 646.11 PCC 6803 6803]. Bacteria 331, gil15143 2E-98 unnamed unidentifi N/A 53 60 346 346 332 0351emb protein ed ICAC50 product unclassifi 776.11 [unidentifi ed. ed]. 333, gi115143 e-111 unnamed unidentifi N/A 61 63 345 346 0351emb protein ed -56- 334 ICAC50 product unclassifi 776.11 [unidentifi ed. ed]. 335, gil16331 e-120 nitrilase Synechoc N/A 62 N/A 350 346 336 918|refl [Synechoc ystis sp. NP_442 ystis sp. PCC 646.11 PCC 6803 6803}. Bacteria 337, gi[17557 3E--22 Nitrilase Caenorha N/A 28 N/A 313 305 338 11 1|refl [Caenorha bditis NP-497 bditis elegans 791.11 elegans]. Eukaryot a 339, gij15143 SE-25 unnamed unidentifi N/A 27 N/A 329 346 340 035jemb protein ed ICAC50 product unclassifi 776.11 [unidentifi ed. ed]. 341, gil15143 2E-11 unnamed unidentifi N/A 26 N/A 342 346 342 035|emb protein ed |CAC50 product unclassifi 776.11 [unidentifi ed. ed]. 343, gil15229 8E--18 nitrilase 2 Arabidop N/A 28 N/A 303 339 344 932lrefl [Arabidop sis NP_1 90 sis thaliana 016.11 thaliana]. Eukaryot a 345, gi[15143 3E-50 unnamed unidentifi N/A 40 N/A 329 346 346 035|emb protein ed [CAC50 product unclassifi 776.11 [unidentifi ed. ed]. 347, gil15143 2E-11 unnamed unidentifi N/A 22 N/A 297 337 348 037Iemb protein ed ICAC50 product unclassifi 777.11 [unidentifi ed. ed]. 349, gil41738 5,00E- Aliphatic Rhodoco N/A 43.3 53.7 333 366 41sp[Q03 ccus -57- 350 2171 86 Nitrilase rhodochr ous 351, gil15229 1E-l1 nitrilase 3 Arabidop N/A 22 N/A 301 346 352 9361refl [Arabidop sis NP_190 sis thaliana 018.11 thaliana}. Eukaryot a 353, gi115143 2E-10 unnamed unidentifi N/A 29 N/A 312 346 354 035[emb protein ed ICAC50 product unclassifi 776.11 [unidentifi ed. ed]. 355, gil17231 0.2 heterocyst Nostoc N/A 25 N/A 325 779 356 038Jrefl differentia sp. PCC NP_487 tion 7120 586-I protein Bacteria [Nostoc sp. PCC 71201. 357, gi115242 FE-15 Nitrilase 4 Arabidop N/A 23 N/A 300 355 358 205refj (sp sis NP_197 P46011) thaliana 622.11 [Arabidop Eukaryot sis a thaliana]. 359, gil16331 1E-58 nitrilase Synechoc N/A 40 N/A 335 346 360 9181ref| [Synechoc ystis sp. NP_442 ystis sp. PCC 646.11 PCC 6803 6803]. Bacteria 361, gil15795 0.007 unnamed Rhodoco N/A 24 N/A 302 366 362 659Iemb protein ccus ICAC88 product rhodochr 237.1[ [Rhodoco ous ccus Bacteria rhodochro us]. 363, gi116331 1E-19 nitrilase Synechoc N/A 22 N/A 335 346 364 918|ref| [Synechoc ystis sp. NP_442 ystis sp. PCC PCC 6803 -58- 646.11 6803]. Bacteria 365, gi148355 0.004 nitrilase- Oryza N/A 17 N/A 315 362 366 88ldbjlB like sativa AA7767 protein Eukaryot 9.11 [Oryza a sativa]. 367, gil41738 0.023 ALIPHAT Rhodoco N/A 18 N/A 317 383 368 21sp]Q02 IC ccus 068|NR NITRILA rhodochr LIRH SE. ous ORH Bacteria 369, gi[17546 0.00000 PROBAB Ralstonia N/A 19 N/A 346 343 370 542]ref[ 001 LE solanacea NP_519 NITRILA rum 944.11 SE Bacteria PROTEIN [Ralstonia solanacear um]. 371, gij15143 9E-23 unnamed unidentifi N/A 24 N/A 327 337 372 037Iemb protein ed ICAC50 product unclassifi 777.11 [unidentifi ed. ed]. 373, gil21206 7E-47 nitrilase Comamo 3.5.5.1 32 N/A 351 354 374 06|pir]J (EC nas C4212 3.5.5.1) - testoster Comamon oni as Bacteria testostero ni. 375, gij14211 5E-59 nitrilase- Brassica N/A 36 N/A 312 350 376 396|gbl like napus AAK57 protein Eukaryot 436.11 [Brassica a napus]. 377, gil59539 1.00E- Sequence N/A N/A N/A N/A 349 N/A 378 611 102 1 from patent US -59- 5872000. 379, giI14211 6E-58 nitrilase- Brassica N/A 38 N/A 311 350 380 396gb[ like napus AAK57 protein Eukaryot 436.11 [Brassica a napus]. 381, gil17546 2E-40 PROBAB Ralstonia N/A 33 N/A 314 343 382 542|refj LE solanacea NP_519 NITRILA rum 944.11 SE Bacteria PROTEIN [Ralstonia solanacear um]. 383, gil15143 c-108 unnamed unidentifi N/A 55 55 345 337 384 037Iemb protein ed ICAC50 product unclassifi 777.11 [unidentifi ed. ed]. 385, gil15143 e-107 unnamed unidentifi N/A 57 57 337 346 386 035|emb protein ed ICAC5O product unclassifi 776.11 [unidentifi ed. ed]. Computer Systems In one aspect of the invention, any nucleic acid sequence and/or polypeptide 5 sequence of the invention can be stored, recorded, and manipulated on any medium which can be read and accessed by a computer. As used herein, the words "recorded" and "stored" refer to a process for storing information on a computer medium. Another aspect of the invention is a computer readable medium having recorded thereon at least 2, 5, 10, 15 or 20 nucleic acid sequences as set forth in SEQ ID NOS: 1-386, and sequences 10 substantially identical thereto. In a further embodiment, another aspect is the comparison among and between nucleic- acid sequences or polypeptide sequences ofthe invention and the comparison between sequences of the invention and other sequences by a computer. -60- Computer readable media include magnetically readable media, optically readable media, electronically readable media and magnetic/optical media. For example, the computer readable media may be a hard disk, a floppy disk, a magnetic tape, CD-ROM, Digital Versatile Disk (DVD), Random Access Memory (RAM), or Read Only Memory (ROM) 5 as well as other types of other media known to those skilled in the art. Embodiments of the invention include systems (e.g, internet based systems), particularly computer systems which store and manipulate the sequence information described herein. As used herein, "a computer system" refers to the hardware components, software components, and data storage components used to analyze a sequence (either 10 nucleic acid or polypeptide) as set forth in at least any one of SEQ ID NOS: 1-386 and sequences substantially identical thereto. The computer system typically includes a processor for processing, accessing .and manipulating the sequence data. The processor can be any well-known type of central processing unit, such as, for example, the Pentium III from Intel Corporation, or similar processor from Sun, Motorola, Compaq, AMD or 15 International Business Machines. Typically the computer system is a general purpose system that comprises the processor and one or more internal data storage components for storing data, and one or more data retrieving devices for retrieving the data stored on the data storage components. In one particular embodiment, the computer system includes a processor connected 20 to a bus which is connected to a main memory (preferably implemented as RA.M) and one or more internal data storage devices, such as a hard drive and/or other computer readable media having data recorded thereon. In some embodiments, the computer system further includes one or more data retrieving device for reading the data stored on the internal data storage devices. 25 The data retrieving device may represent, for example, a floppy disk drive, a compact disk drive, a magnetic tape drive, or a modem capable of connection to a remote data storage system (e.g., via the internet) etc. In some embodiments, the internal data storage device is a removable computer readable medium such as a floppy disk, a compact disk, a magnetic tape, etc. containing control logic and/or data recorded thereon. The -61computer system may advantageously include or be programmed by appropriate software for reading the control logic and/or the data from the data storage component once inserted in the data retrieving device. The computer system includes a display which is used to display output to a 5 computer user. It should also be noted that the computer system can be linked to other computer systems in a network or wide area network to provide centralized access to the computer system. In some embodiments, the computer system may further comprise a sequence comparison algorithm. A "sequence comparison algorithm" refers to one or more programs which are implemented (locally or remotely) on the computer system to 10 compare a nucleotide sequence with other nucleotide sequences and/or compounds stored within a data storage means. Uses ofNitrilases Nitrilases have been identified as key enzymes for the production of chiral c hydroxy acids, which are valuable intermediates in the fine chemicals industry, and as 15 pharmaceutical intermediates. The nitrilase enzymes of the invention are useful to catalyze the stereoselective hydrolysis of cyanohydrins and aminonitriles, producing chiral c-hydroxy- and a-amino acids, respectively. Stereoselective enzymes provide a key advantage over chemical resolution methods as they do not require harsh conditions and are more environmentally 20 compatible. The use of nitrilases is of particular interest for the production of chiral amino acids and a-hydroxy acids. Using a stereoselective nitrilase, dynamic resolution conditions can be established, due to the racemisation of the substrate under aqueous conditions. Thus 100% theoretical yields are achievable. This invention is directed to the nitrilases which have been discovered and 25 isolated from naturally occurring sources. This invention is also directed to evolving novel genes and gene pathways from diverse and extreme environmental sources. In an effort to develop the most extensive assortment of enzymes available, DNA was extracted directly from samples that have been collected from varying habitats around the globe. From these efforts, the largest collection of environmental genetic libraries -62in the world was developed. Through extensive high-throughput screening of these libraries, 192 new sequence-unique nitrilase enzymes have been discovered to date. Previous to this invention, fewer than 20 microbial-derived nitrilases had been reported in the literature and public databases. 5 Biocatalysts, such as nitrilases, play an important role in catalyzing metabolic reactions in living organisms. In addition, biocatalysts have found applications in the chemical industry, where they can perform many different reactions. Some examples of the advantages of the use of nitrilases is that they provide: high enantio-, chemo and regio- selectivity; they function under mild reaction conditions; they provide direct 10 access to products - with minimal protection; they have high catalytic efficiencies; they produce reduced waste compared with the chemical alternatives; they are easily immobilized as enzymes or cells; they are recoverable, recyclable and are capable of being manipulated via molecular biological techniques; they can be regenerated in whole cell processes; they are tolerant to organic solvents; and importantly, they can 15 be evolved or optimized. Optimized nitrilases are presented herein as working examples of the invention. Nitrilases catalyze the hydrolysis of nitrile moieties generating the corresponding carboxylic acid. Conventional chemical hydrolysis of nitrites requires strong acid or base and high temperature. However, one advantage of the invention is 20 that nitrilases are provided which perform this reaction under mild conditions. Wide ranges of nitrile substrates can be transformed by nitrilases with high enantio-, chemo and regio- selectivity. R-C=N + 2 H 2 0 nitrilase 0 + NH 3 R OH 25 Table 3 - Some characteristics of Nitrilases of the Invention Previously Discovered New Nitrilases Nitrilases Limitations New Features Benefits <20 reported >180 newly discovered Access to a wider -63- substrate range Unique nitrilases, many with Homologous little homology to previously known nitrilases Narrow substrate Broad substrate activity spectrum activity spectrum Product with high Very few shown to be Enantioselective; both enantioselective enantiomers accessible enantioreric excess and minimnal waste production Limited stability profile Stable in a variety of Potential use in a wide range conditions of process conditions Inconsistent supply Consistent supply Reliable source of product Good source material leads to Not applicable Amenable to optimization better product Dynamic Kinetic Resolution: The use of the nitrilases allows discrimination between two rapidly equilibrating enantiomers to give a single product in 100% theoretical yield. Nitrilases are utilized for dynamic resolution of key cyanohydrins and 5 aminonitriles to produce enantiomerically pure a-carboxylic and ct-amino acids. Newly discovered nitrilases disclosed herein yield products with >95% enantiomeric excess (ee) with and >95% yield. The nitrilases perform this transformation efficiently under mild conditions in aqueous solution or in the presence of organic solvent. OH OH jgjgeOH OH OH Nitrilase O R CN R CN R CO 2 H HCN Rapid o Racemization a-HydroxyAcids R H H-CN

NH

3

NH

2

NH

2 Nitrilase NH 2 R CN R CN R C0 2 H a-Amino Acids 10 -64- These products shown above also include the opposite enanatiomers, although they are not shown. In one aspect, the invention provides an isolated nucleic acid having a sequence as set forth in any one of the Group A nucleic acid sequences, having a sequence substantially identical thereto, or having a sequence complementary 5 thereto. In another aspect, the invention provides an isolated nucleic acid including at least 20 consecutive nucleotides identical to a portion of a nucleotide sequence as set forth in the Group A nucleic acid sequences, having a sequence substantially identical thereto, or having a sequence complementary thereto. 10 In another aspect, the invention provides an isolated nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide having a sequence as set forth in the Group B amino acid sequences, or having a sequence substantially identical thereto. In another aspect, the invention provides an isolated nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide having at least 10 consecutive amino acids identical to a portion of a 15 sequence as set forth in the Group B amino acid sequences, or having a sequence substantially identical thereto. In yet another aspect, the invention provides a substantially purified polypeptide comprising consecutive amino acid residues having a sequence as set forth in the Group B amino acid sequences, or having a sequence substantially identical 20 thereto. In another aspect, the invention provides an isolated antibody that specifically binds to a polypeptide of the invention. The invention also provides for a fragment of the antibody which retains the ability to specifically bind the polypeptide. In another aspect, the invention provides a method of producing a polypeptide 25 having a sequence as set forth in the Group B amino acid sequences, and sequences substantially identical thereto. The method includes introducing a nucleic acid encoding the polypeptide into a host cell, wherein the nucleic acid is operably joined to a promoter, and culturing the host cell under conditions that allow expression of the nucleic acid. 30 In another aspect, the invention provides a method of producing a polypeptide having at least 10 consecutive amino acids from a sequence as set forth in the Group B -65amino acid sequences, and sequences substantially identical thereto. The method includes introducing a nucleic acid encoding the polypeptide into a host cell, wherein the nucleic acid is operably joined to a promoter, and culturing the host cell under conditions that allow expression of the nucleic acid, thereby producing the polypeptide. 5 In another aspect, the invention provides a method of generating a variant of a nitrilase, including choosing a nucleic acid sequence as set forth in the Group A nucleic acid sequences, and changing one or more nucleotides in the sequence to another nucleotide, deleting one or more nucleotides in the sequence, or adding one or more nucleotides to the sequence. 10 In another aspect, the invention provides assays for identifying functional variants of the Group B amino acid sequences that retain the enzymatic function of the polypeptides of the Group B amino acid sequences. The assays include contacting a polypeptide comprising consecutive amino acid residues having a sequence identical to a sequence of the Group B amino acid sequences or a portion thereof, having a 15 sequence substantially identical to a sequence of the Group B amino acid sequences or a portion thereof, or having a sequence which is a.variant of a sequence of the Group B amino acid sequences that retains nitrilase activity, with a substrate molecule under conditions which allow the polypeptide to function, and detecting either a decrease in the level of substrate or an increase in the level of a specific reaction product of the 20 reaction between the polypeptide and the substrate, thereby identifying a functional variant of such sequences. Modification of Polypeptides of the Invention Enzymes are highly selective catalysts. Their hallmark is the ability to catalyze 25 reactions with exquisite stereo-selectivity, regio-selectivity, and chemo-selectivity that is unparalleled in conventional synthetic chemistry. Moreover, enzymes are remarkably versatile. They can be tailored to function in organic solvents, operate at extreme pHs (for example, acidic or basic conditions) extreme temperatures (for example, high temperatures and low temperatures), extreme salinity levels (for example, high salinity 30 and low salinity), and catalyze reactions with compounds that can be structurally unrelated to their natural, physiological substrates except for the enzymatic active site. -66- The invention provides methods for modifying polypeptides having nitrilase activity or polynucleotides encoding such polypeptides in order to obtain new polypeptides which retain nitrilase activity but which are improved with respect to some desired characteristic. Such improvements can include the ability to function 5 (i.e., exhibit nitrilase activity) in organic solvents, operate at extreme or uncharacteristic pHs, operate at extreme or uncharacteristic temperatures, operate at extreme or uncharacteristic salinity levels, catalyze reactions with different substrates, etc. The present invention directed to methods of using nitrilases so as to exploit 10 the unique catalytic properties of these enzymes. Whereas the use of biocatalysts (i.e., purified or crude enzymes) in chemical transformations normally requires the identification of a particular biocatalyst that reacts with a specific starting compound, the present invention uses selected biocatalysts and reaction conditions that are specific for functional groups that are present in many starting compounds. Each biocatalyst is 15 specific for one functional group, or several related functional groups, and can react with many starting compounds containing this functional group. Enzymes react at specific sites within a starting compound without affecting the rest of the molecule, a process which is very difficult to achieve using traditional chemical methods. This high degree of specificity provides the means to identify a 20 single active compound within a library of compounds. The library is characterized by the series of biocatalytic reactions used to produce it, a so-called "biosynthetic history." Screening the library for biological activities and tracing the biosynthetic history identifies the specific reaction sequence producing the active compound. The reaction sequence is repeated and the structure of the synthesized compound 25 determined. This mode of identification, unlike other synthesis and screening approaches, does not require immobilization technologies, and compounds can be synthesized and tested free in solution using virtually any type of screening assay. It is important to note, that the high degree of specificity of enzyme reactions on functional groups allows for the "tracking" of specific enzymatic reactions that make up the 30 biocatalytically produced library. (For further teachings on modification of molecules, -67including small molecules, see PCT Application No. PCT/US94/09174, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety). In one exemplification, the invention provides for the chirmerization of a family of related nitrilase genes and their encoded family of related products. Thus according 5 to this aspect of the invention, the sequences of a plurality of nitrilase nucleic acids (e.g., the Group A nucleic acids) serve as nitrilase "templates" which are aligned using a sequence comparison algorithm such as those described above. One or more demarcation points are then identified in the aligned template sequences, which are located at one or more areas of homology. The demarcation points can be used to 10 delineate the boundaries of nucleic acid building blocks, which are used to generate chimeric nitrilases. Thus, the demarcation points identified and selected in the nitrilase template molecules serve as potential chimerization points in the assembly of the chimeric nitrilase molecules. Typically, a useful demarcation point is an area of local identity between at 15 least two progenitor templates, but preferably the demarcation point is an area of identity that is shared by at least half of the templates, at least two thirds of the templates, at least three fourths of the templates, or at nearly all of the templates. The building blocks, which are defined by the demarcation points, can then be mixed (either literally, in solution, or theoretically, on paper or in a computer) and 20 reassembled to form chimeric nitrilase genes. In one embodiment, the gene reassembly process is performed exhaustively in order to generate an exhaustive library of all possible combinations. In other words, all possible ordered combinations of the nucleic acid building blocks are represented in the set of finalized chimeric nucleic acid molecules. At the same time, however, the order of assembly of each building block in 25 the 5' to 3' direction in each combination is designed to reflect the order in the templates, and to reduce the production of unwanted, inoperative products. In some embodiments, the gene reassembly process is performed systematically, in order to generate a compartmentalized library with compartments that can be screened systematically, e.g., one by one. In other words, the invention 30 provides that, through the selective and judicious use of specific nucleic acid building blocks, coupled with the selective and judicious use of sequentially stepped assembly -68reactions, an experimental design can be achieved where specific sets of chimeric products are made in each of several reaction vessels. This allows a systematic examination and screening procedure to be performed. Thus, it allows a potentially very large number of chimeric molecules to be examined systematically in smaller 5 groups. In some embodiments, the synthetic nature of the step in which the building blocks are generated or reassembled allows the design and introduction of sequences of nucleotides (e.g., codons or introns or regulatory sequences) that can later be optionally removed in an in vitro process (e.g., by mutagenesis) or in an in vivo 10 process (e.g., by utilizing the gene splicing ability of a host organism). The introduction of these nucleotides may be desirable for many reasons, including the potential benefit of creating a useful demarcation point. The synthetic gene reassembly method of the invention utilizes a plurality of nucleic acid building blocks, each of which has two ligatable ends. Some examples of 15 the two ligatable ends on each nucleic acid building block includes, but are not limited to, two blunt ends, or one blunt end and one overhang, or two overhangs. In a further, non-lirniting example, the overhang can include one base pair, 2 base pairs, 3 base pairs, 4 base pairs or more. A double-stranded nucleic acid building block can be of variable size. 20 Preferred sizes for building blocks range from about 1 base pair (bp) (not including any overhangs) to about 100,000 base pairs (not including any overhangs). Other preferred size ranges are also provided, which have lower limits of from about 1 bp to about 10,000 bp (including every integer value in between), and upper limits of from about 2 bp to about 100,000 bp (including every integer value in between). 25 According to one embodiment, a double-stranded nucleic acid building block is generated by first generating two single stranded nucleic acids and allowing them to anneal to form a double-stranded nucleic acid building block. The two strands of a double-stranded nucleic acid building block may be complementary at every nucleotide apart from any that form an overhang; thus containing no mismatches, apart from any 30 overhang(s). Alternatively, the two strands of a double-stranded nucleic acid building block can be complementary at fewer than every nucleotide, apart from any -69overhang(s). In particular, mismatches between the strands can be used to introduce codon degeneracy using methods such as the site-saturation mutagenesis described herein. In vivo shuffling of molecules is also useful in providing variants and can be 5 performed utilizing the natural property of cells to recombine multirners. While recombination in vivo has provided the major natural route to molecular diversity, genetic recombination remains a relatively complex process that involves (1) the recognition of homologies; (2) strand cleavage, strand invasion, and metabolic steps leading to the production of recombinant chiasma; and finally (3) the resolution of 10 chiasma into discrete recombined molecules. The formation of the chiasma requires the recognition of homologous sequences. Thus, the invention includes a method for producing a chimeric or recombinant polynucleotide from at least a first polynucleotide and a second polynucleotide in vivo. The invention can be used to produce a recombinant polynucleotide by introducing at 15 least a first polynucleotide and a second polynucleotide which share at least one region of partial sequence homology (e.g., the Group A nucleic acid sequences, and combinations thereof) into a suitable host cell. The regions of partial sequence homology promote processes which result in sequence reorganization producing a recombinant polynucleotide. Such hybrid polynucleotides can result from 20 intermolecular recombination events which promote sequence integration between DNA molecules. In addition, such hybrid polynucleotides can result from intramolecular reductive reassortment processes which utilize repeated sequences to alter a nucleotide sequence within a DNA molecule. The invention provides a means for generating recombinant polynucleotides 25 which encode biologically active variant polypeptides (e.g., a nitrilase variant). For example, a polynucleotide may encode a particular enzyme from one microorganism. An enzyme encoded by a first polynucleotide from one organism can, for example, function effectively under a particular environmental condition, e.g., high salinity. An enzyme encoded by a second polynucleotide from a different organism can function 30 effectively under a different environmental condition, such as extremely high temperature. A recombined polynucleotide containing sequences from the first and -70second original polynucleotides encodes a variant enzyme which exhibits characteristics of both enzymes encoded by the original polynucleotides. Thus, the enzyme encoded by the recombined polynucleotide can function effectively under environmental conditions shared by each of the enzymes encoded by the first and 5 second polynucleotides, e.g., high salinity and extreme temperatures. A variant polypeptide can exhibit specialized enzyme activity not displayed in the original enzymes. For example, following recombination and/or reductive reassortment of polynucleotides encoding nitrilase activity, the resulting variant polypeptide encoded by a recombined polynucleotide can be screened for specialized 10 nitrilase activity obtained from each of the original enzymes, ie., the temperature or pH at which the nitrilase functions. Sources of the original polynucleotides may be isolated from individual organisms ("isolates"), collections of organisms that have been grown in defined media ("enrichment cultures"), or, uncultivated organisms ("environmental samples"). The use of a culture-independent approach to derive 15 polynucleotides encoding novel bioactivities from environmental samples is most preferable since it allows one to access untapped resources of biodiversity. The microorganisms from which the polynucleotide may be prepared include prokaryotic microorganisms, such as Xanthobacter, Eubacteria and Archaebacteria, and lower eukaryotic microorganisms such as fungi, some algae and protozoa. Polynucleotides 20 may be isolated from environmental samples in which case the nucleic acid may be recovered without culturing of an organism or recovered from one or more cultured organisms. In one aspect, such microorganisms may be extremophiles, such as hyperthermophites, psychrophiles, psychrotrophs, halophiles, barophiles and acidophiles. Polynucleotides encoding enzymes isolated froni extremophilic 25 microorganisms are particularly preferred. Such enzymes may function at temperatures above 1 00 0 C in terrestrial hot springs and deep sea thermal vents, at temperatures below 0"C in arctic waters, in the saturated salt environment of the Dead Sea, at pH values around 0 in coal deposits and geothermal sulfur-rich springs, or at pH values greater than 11 in sewage sludge. 30 Examples of mammalian expression systems that can be employed to express recombinant proteins include the COS-7, C 127, 3T3, CHO, HeLa and BHK cell lines. -71- Mammalian expression vectors comprise an origin of replication, a suitable promoter and enhancer, and also any necessary ribosome binding sites, polyadenylation site, splice donor and acceptor sites, transcriptional termination sequences, and 5' flanking nontranscribed sequences. DNA sequences derived from the SV40 splice and 5 polyadenylation sites may be used to provide the required nontranscribed genetic elements. U.S. Patent No. 6,054,267 is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. Host cells containing the polynucleotides of interest can be cultured in conventional nutrient media modified as appropriate for activating promoters, selecting 10 transformants or amplifying genes. The culture conditions, such as temperature, pH and the like, are those previously used with the host cell selected for expression, and will be apparent to the ordinarily skilled artisan. Clones, which are identified as having a desired enzyme activity or other property may then be sequenced to identify the recombinant polynucleotide sequence encoding the enzyme having the desired activity 15 or property. In one embodiment, the invention provides for the isolated nitrilases as either an isolated nucleic acid or an isolated polypeptide wherein the nucleic acid or the polypeptide was prepared by recovering DNA from a DNA population derived from at least one uncultivated microorganism, and transforming a host with recovered DNA to 20 produce a library of clones which is screened for the specified protein, e.g. nitrilase activity. U.S. Patent No. 6,280,926, Short, provides descriptions of such methods and is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes. Therefore, in a one embodiment, the invention relates to a method for producing a biologically active recombinant nitrilase polypeptide and screening such a 25 polypeptide for desired activity or property by: 1) introducing at least a first nitrilase polynucleotide and a second nitrilase polynucleotide, said at least first nitrilase polynucleotide and second nitrilase polynucleotide sharing at least one region of sequence homology, into a suitable host cell; 2) growing the host cell under conditions which promote sequence 30 reorganization resulting in a recombinant nitrilase polynucleotide; -72- 3) expressing a recombinant nitrilase polypeptide encoded by the recombinant nitrilase polynucleotide; 4) screening the recombinant nitrilase polypeptide for the desired activity or property; and 5 5) isolating the recombinant nitrilase polynucleotide encoding the recombinant nitrilase polypeptide. Examples of vectors which may be used include viral particles, baculovirus, phage, plasmids, phagernids, cosmids, fosmids, bacterial artificial chromosomes, viral DNA (e.g., vaccinia, adenovirus, fowlpox virus, pseudorabies and derivatives of 10 SV40), P1-based artificial chromosomes, yeast plasmids, yeast artificial chromosomes, and any other vectors specific for the hosts of interest (e.g., Bacillus, Aspergillus and yeast). Large numbers of suitable vectors are known to those of skill in the art, and are commercially available. Examples of bacterial vectors include pQE vectors (Qiagen, Valencia, CA); pBluescript plasmids, pNH vectors, and lambda-ZAP vectors 15 (Stratagene, La Jolla, CA); and pTRC99a, pKK223-3, pDR540, and pRIT2T vectors (Pharmacia, Peapack, NJ). Examples of eukaryotic vectors include pXTI and pSG5 vectors (Stratagene, La Jolla, CA); and pSVK3, pBPV, pMSG, and pSVLSV40 vectors (Pharmacia, Peapack, NJ). However, any other plasmid or other vector may be used so long as they are replicable and viable in the host. 20 A preferred type of vector for use in the present invention contains an f-factor (or fertility factor) origin of replication. The f-factor in E. coli is a plasmid which effects high frequency transfer of itself during conjugation and less frequent transfer of the bacterial chromosome itself. A particularly preferred embodiment is to use cloning vectors referred to as "fosmids" or bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) vectors. 25 These are derived from E. coli f-factor which is able to stably integrate large segments of genomic DNA. The DNA sequence in the expression vector is operably joined to appropriate expression control sequences, including a promoter, to direct RNA synthesis. Useful bacterial promoters include lacI, lacZ, T3, T7, gpt, lambda PR, PL and trp. Useful 30 eukaryotic promoters include CMV immediate early, HSV thymidine kinase, early and late SV40, LTRs from retrovirus, and mouse metallothionein-I. Selection of the -73appropriate vector and promoter is well within the level of ordinary skill in the art. The expression vector also contains a ribosome binding site for translation initiation and a transcription terminator. The vector may also include appropriate sequences for amplifying expression. Promoter regions can be selected from any desired gene using 5 CAT (chloramphenicol transferase) vectors or other vectors with selectable markers. In addition, the expression vectors can contain one or more selectable marker genes to provide a phenotypic trait for selection of transformed host cells. Useful selectable markers include dihydrofolate reductase or neomycin resistance for eukaryotic cell culture, or tetracycline or ampicillin resistance in E. coli. 10 The vector may be introduced into the host cells using any of a variety of techniques, including transformation, transfection, transduction, viral infection, gene guns, or Ti-mediated gene transfer. Particular methods include calcium phosphate transfection, DEAE-Dextran mediated transfection, lipofection, or electroporation Reductive Reassortment - In another aspect, variant nitrilase polynucleotides 15 can be generated by the process of reductive reassortmert. Whereas recombination is an "inter-molecular" process which, in bacteria, is generally viewed as a "recA dependent" phenomenon, the process of'"reductive reassortment" occurs by an "intra molecular", recA-independent process. In this aspect, the invention can rely on the ability of cells to mediate reductive processes to decrease the complexity of quasi 20 repeated sequences in the cell by deletion. The method involves the generation of constructs containing consecutive repeated or quasi-repeated sequences (original encoding sequences), the insertion of these sequences into an appropriate vector, and the subsequent introduction of the vector into an appropriate host cell. The reassortment of the individual molecular identities occurs by combinatorial processes 25 between the consecutive sequences in the construct possessing regions of homology, or between quasi-repeated units. The reassortment process recombines and/or reduces the complexity and extent of the repeated sequences, and results in the production of novel molecular species. Various treatments may be applied to enhance the rate of reassortment, such as ultra-violet light or DNA damaging chemicals. In addition, host 30 cell lines displaying enhanced levels of "genetic instability" can be used. -74- Repeated Sequences - Repeated or "quasi-repeated" sequences play a role in genetic instability. In the present invention, "quasi-repeats" are repeats that are not identical in structure but, rather, represent an array of consecutive sequences which have a high degree of similarity or identity sequences. The reductive reassortment or 5 deletion process in the cell reduces the complexity of the resulting construct by deleting sequences between positions within quasi-repeated sequences. Because the deletion (arid potentially insertion) events can occur virtually anywhere within the quasi-repetitive units, these sequences provide a large repertoire of potential variants. When the quasi-repeated sequences are all ligaied in the same orientation, for 10 instance head-to-tail or vice versa, the endpoints of a deletion are, for the most part, equally likely to occur anywhere within the quasi-repeated sequences. In contrast, when the units are presented head-to-head or tail-to-tail, the inverted quasi-repeated sequences can form a duplex which delineates the endpoints of the adjacent units and thereby favors deletion of discrete units. Therefore, it is preferable in the present 15 invention that the quasi-repeated sequences are joined in the same orientation because random orientation of quasi-repeated sequences will result in the loss of reassortment efficiency, while consistent orientation of the sequences will offer the highest efficiency. Nonetheless, although having fewer of the contiguous sequences in the same orientation decreases the efficiency or reductive reassortment, it may still provide 20 sufficient variation for the effective recovery of novel molecules. Sequences can be assembled in a head-to-tail orientation using any of a variety of methods, including the following: a) Primers can be utilized that include a poly-A head and poly-T tail which, when made single-stranded, would provide orientation. This is accomplished 25 by having the first few bases of the primers made from RNA and hence easily removed by RNAse H. b) Primers can be utilized that include unique restriction cleavage sites. Multiple sites, a battery of unique sequences, and repeated synthesis and ligation steps would be required. c) The inner few bases of the primer can be thiolated and an exonuclease 30 used to produce properly tailed molecules. -75- The recovery of the reassorted sequences relies on the identification of cloning vectors with a reduced repetitive index (RI). The reassorted coding sequences can then be recovered by amplification. The products are recloned and expressed. The recovery of cloning vectors with reduced RI can be effected by: 5 1) The use of vectors only stably maintained when the construct is reduced in complexity. 2) The physical recovery of shortened vectors by physical procedures. In this case, the cloning vector would be recovered using standard plasnid isolation procedures and then size-fractionated using standard procedures (e.g., agarose gel or 10 column with a low molecular weight cut off). 3) The recovery of vectors containing interrupted genes can be selected when insert size decreases. 4) The use of direct selection techniques wherein an expression vector is used and the appropriate selection is carried out. 15 Coding sequences from related organisms may demonstrate a high degree of homology but nonetheless encode quite diverse protein products. These types of sequences are particularly useful in the present invention as quasi-repeats. However, while the examples illustrated below demonstrate the reassortment of coding sequences with a high degree of identity (quasi-repeats), this process is not limited to nearly 20 identical repeats. The following example demonstrates a method of the invention. Quasi repetitive coding sequences derived from three different species are obtained. Each sequence encodes a protein with a distinct set of properties. Each of the sequences differs by one or more base pairs at unique positions in the sequences which are 25 designated "A", "B" and "C". The quasi-repeated sequences are separately or collectively amplified and ligated into random assemblies such that all possible permutations and combinations are available in the population of ligated molecules. The number of quasi-repeat units can be controlled by the assembly conditions. The average number of quasi-repeated units in a construct is defined as the repetitive index 30 (RI). -76- Once formed, the constructs can be size-fractionated on an agarose gel according to published protocols, inserted into a cloning vector, and transfected into an appropriate host cell. The cells can then be propagated to allow reductive reassortment to occur. The rate of the reductive reassortment process may be 5 stimulated by the introduction of DNA damage if desired. Whether the reduction in RI is mediated by deletion formation between repeated sequences by an "intra-molecular" mechanism, or mediated by recombination-like events through "inter-molecular" mechanisms is immaterial. The end result is a reassortment of the molecules into all possible combinations. 10 In another aspect, prior to or during recombination or reassortment, polynucleotides of the invention or polynucleotides generated by the methods described herein can be subjected to agents or processes which promote the introduction of mutations into the original polynucleotides. The introduction of such mutations would increase the diversity of resulting hybrid polynucleotides and 15 polypeptides encoded therefrom. The agents or processes which promote mutagenesis include, but are not limited to: (+)-CC-1065, or a synthetic analog such as (+)-CC 1065-(N3-adenine) (Sun et al. (1992), Biochemistry 31(10):2822-9); an N-acetylated or deacetylated 4'-fluoro-4-aminobiphenyl adduct capable of inhibiting DNA synthesis (see, for example, van de Poll et al. (1992), Carcinogenesis 13(5):751-8); or a N 20 acetylated or deacetylated 4-aminobiphenyl adduct capable of inhibiting DNA synthesis (see also, Van de Poll et al. (1992), supra); trivalent chromium, a trivalent chromium salt, a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon ("PAH") DNA adduct capable of inhibiting DNA replication, such as 7-bromomethyl-benza]anthracene ("BMA"), tris(2,3 dibromo pro pyl)phosphate ("Tris-BP"), 1,2-dibromo-3 -chloropropane ("DBCP"), 2 25 bromoacrolein (2BA), benzo[a]pyrene-7,8-dihydrodiol-9-10-epoxide C'BPDE"), a platinum(II) halogen salt, N-hydroxy-2-amino-3-methylimid azo[4,5-fl-quinoline ("N hydroxy-IQ"), and N-hydroxy-2-amino-1 -methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-f]-pyridine ("N hydroxy-PhIP"). Especially preferred means for slowing or halting PCR amplification consist of UV light (+)-CC-1065 and (+)-CC-1065-(N3-Adenine). Particularly 30 encompassed means are DNA adducts or polynucleotides comprising the DNA adducts from the polynucleotides or polynucleotides pool, which can be released or removed -77by a process including heating the solution comprising the polynucleotides prior to further processing. GSSMTM - The invention also provides for the use of codon primers containing a degenerate N,N,G/T sequence to introduce point mutations into a polynucleotide, so 5 as to generate a set of progeny polypeptides in which a full range of single amino acid substitutions is represented at each amino acid position, a method referred to as gene site-saturated mutagenesis (GSSMTM). The oligos used are comprised contiguously of a first homologous sequence, a degenerate N,N,G/T sequence, and possibly a second homologous sequence. The progeny translational products from the use of such oligos 10 include all possible amino acid changes at each amino acid site along the polypeptide, because the degeneracy of the NN,G/T sequence includes codons for all 20 amino acids. In one aspect, one such degenerate oligo (comprising one degenerate NN,G/T cassette) is used for subjecting each original codon in a parental polynucleotide 15 template to a full range of codon substitutions. In another aspect, at least two degenerate N,N,G/T cassettes are used - either in the same oligo or not, for subjecting at least two original codons in a parental polynucleotide template to a ful range of codon substitutions. Thus, more than one N,N,G/T sequence can be contained in one oligo to introduce amino acid mutations at more than one site. This plurality of 20 N,N,G/T sequences can be directly contiguous, or separated by one or more additional nucleotide sequences. In another aspect, oligos serviceable for introducing additions and deletions can be used either alone or in combination with the codons containing an N,N,G/T sequence, to introduce any combination or permutation of amino acid additions, deletions, and/or substitutions. 25 In a particular exemplification, it is possible to simultaneously mutagenize two or more contiguous amino acid positions using an oligo that contains contiguous N,N,G/T triplets, i.e., a degenerate (N,N,G/T), sequence. In another aspect, the present invention provides for the use of degenerate cassettes having less degeneracy than the NN,G/T sequence. For example, it may be 30 desirable in some instances to use a degenerate triplet sequence comprised of only one N, where said N can be in the first second or third position of the triplet. Any other -78bases including any combinations and permutations thereof can be used in the remaining two positions of the triplet. Alternatively, it may be desirable in some instances to use a degenerate NN,N triplet sequence, or an NN, G/C triplet sequence. It is appreciated, however, that the use of a degenerate triplet (such as 5 NN,G/T or an N,N, G/C triplet sequence) as disclosed in the instant invention is advantageous for several reasons. In one aspect, this invention provides a means to systematically and fairly easily generate the substitution of the full range of the 20 possible amino acids into each and every amino acid position in a polypeptide. Thus, for a 100 amino acid polypeptide, the invention provides a way to systematically and 10 fairly easily generate 2000 distinct species (i.e., 20 possible amino acids per position times 100 amino acid positions). It is appreciated that there is provided, through the use of an oligo containing a degenerate NN,G/T or an NN, G/C triplet sequence, 32 individual sequences that code for the 20 possible amino acids. Thus, in a reaction vessel in which a parental polynucleotide sequence is subjected to saturation 15 mutagenesis using one such oligo, there are generated 32 distinct progeny polynucleotides encoding 20 distinct polypeptides. In contrast, the use of a non degenerate oligo in site-directed mutagenesis leads to only one progeny polypeptide product per reaction vessel. This invention also provides for the use of nondegenerate oligonucleotides, 20 which can optionally be used in combination with degenerate primers disclosed. It is appreciated that in some situations, it is advantageous to use nondegenerate oligos to generate specific point mutations in a working polynucleotide. This provides a means to generate specific silent point mutations, point mutations leading to corresponding amino acid changes, and point mutations that cause the generation of stop codons and 25 the corresponding expression of polypeptide fragments. Thus, in one embodiment, each saturation mutagenesis reaction vessel contains polynucleotides encoding at least 20 progeny polypeptide molecules such that all 20 amino acids are represented at the one specific amino acid position corresponding to the codon position mutagenized in the parental polynucleotide. The 32-fold 30 degenerate progeny polypeptides generated from each saturation mutagenesis reaction vessel can be subjected to clonal amplification (e.g., cloned into a suitable E. coli host -79using an expression vector) and subjected to expression screening. When an individual progeny polypeptide is identified by screening to display a favorable change in property (when compared to the parental polypeptide), it can be sequenced to identify the correspondingly favorable amino acid substitution contained therein. 5 It is appreciated that upon mutagenizing each and every amino acid position in a parental polypeptide using saturation mutagenesis as disclosed herein, favorable amino acid changes may be identified at more than one amino acid position. One Or more new progeny molecules can be generated that contain a combination of all or part of these favorable amino acid substitutions. For example, if 2 specific favorable amino 10 acid changes are identified in each of 3 amino acid positions in a polypeptide, the permutations include 3 possibilities at each position (no change from the original arnino acid, and each of two favorable changes) and 3 positions. Thus, there are 3 x 3 x 3 or 27 total possibilities, including 7 that were previously examined - 6 single point mutations (i.e., 2 at each of three positions) and no change at any position. 15 In yet another aspect, site-saturation mutagenesis can be used together with shuffng, chimerization, recombination and other mutagenizing processes, along with screening. This invention provides for the use of any mutagenizing process(es), including saturation mutagenesis, in an iterative manner. In one exemplification, the iterative use of any mutagenizing process(es) is used in combination with screening. 20 Thus, in a non-limiting exemplification, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention can be derived by saturation mutagenesis in combination with additional mutagenization processes, such as process where two or more related polynucleotides are introduced into a suitable host cell such that a hybrid polynucleotide is generated by recombination and reductive reassortment. 25 In addition to performing mutagenesis along the entire sequence of a gene, mutagenesis can be used to replace each of any number of bases in a polynucleotide sequence, wherein the number of bases to be mutagenized can be each integer from about 15 to about 100,000. Thus, instead of mutagenizing every position along a molecule, one can subject every or a discrete number of bases (e.g., a subset totaling 30 from about 15 to about 100,000) to mutagenesis. In one embodiment, a separate nucleotide is used for mutagenizing each position or group of positions along a -80polynucleotide sequence. A group of 3 positions to be mutagenized can be a codon. In one embodiment, the mutations are introduced using a mutagenic primer, containing a heterologous cassette, also referred to as a mutagenic cassette. For example, cassettes can have from about I to about 500 bases. Each nucleotide position in such 5 heterologous cassettes can be N, A, C, G, T, A/C, A/G, A/T, C/G, C/T, G/T, C/G/T, A/G/T, A/C/T, A/C/G, or E, where E is any base that is not A, C, G, or T. In a general sense, saturation mutagenesis comprises mutagenizing a complete set of mutagenic cassettes (for example, each cassette is about 1-500 bases in length) in a defined polynucleotide sequence to be mutagenized (for example, the sequence to 10 be mutagenized is from about 15 to about 100,000 bases in length). Thus, a group of mutations (ranging from about 1 to about 100 mutations) is introduced.into each cassette to be mutagenized. A grouping of mutations to be introduced into one cassette can be different or the same from a second grouping of mutations to be introduced into a second cassette during the application of one round of saturation 15 mutagenesis. Such groupings are exemplified by deletions, additions, groupings of particular codons, and groupings of particular nucleotide cassettes. Defined sequences to be mutagenized include a whole gene, pathway, cDNA, entire open reading frame (ORF), promoter, enhancer, repressor/transactivator, origin of replication, intron, operator, or any polynucleotide functional group. Generally, a 20 "defined sequence" for this purpose may be any polynucleotide that a 15 base polynucleotide sequence, and polynucleotide sequences of lengths between about 15 bases and about 15,000 bases (this invention specifically names every integer in between). Considerations in choosing groupings of codons include types of amino acids encoded by a degenerate mutagenic cassette. 25 In a particularly preferred exemplification a grouping of mutations that can be introduced into a mutagenic cassette, this invention specifically provides for degenerate codon substitutions (using degenerate oligos) that code for 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, and 20 amino acids at each position, and a library of polypeptides encoded thereby. 30 One aspect of the invention is an isolated nucleic acid comprising one of the sequences of the Group A nucleic acid sequences, sequences substantially identical -81thereto, sequences complementary thereto, or a fragment comprising at least 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 50, 75, 100, 150, 200, 300, 400, or 500 consecutive bases of one of the sequences of the Group A nucleic acid sequences. The isolated nucleic acids may comprise DNA, including cDNA, genomic DNA, and synthetic DNA. The DNA may 5 be double-stranded or single-stranded, and if single stranded may be the coding strand or non-coding (anti-sense) strand. Alternatively, the isolated nucleic acids may comprise RNA. As discussed in more detail below, the isolated nucleic acid sequences of the invention may be used to prepare one of the polypeptides of the Group B amino acid 10 sequences, and sequences substantially identical thereto, or fragments comprising at least 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 50, 75, 100, or 150 consecutive amino acids of one of the polypeptides of the Group B amino acid sequences, and sequences substantially identical thereto. Alternatively, the nucleic acid sequences of the invention may be mutagenized 15 using conventional techniques, such as site directed mutagenesis, or other techniques familiar to those skilled in the art, to introduce silent changes into the polynucleotides of the Group A nucleic acid sequences, and sequences substantially identical thereto. As used herein, "silent changes" include, for example, changes which do not alter the amino acid sequence encoded by the polynucleotide. Such changes may be desirable in 20 order to increase the level of the polypeptide produced by host cells containing a vector encoding the polypeptide by introducing codons or codon pairs which occur frequently in the host organism. The invention also relates to polynucleotides which have nucleotide changes which result in amino acid substitutions, additions, deletions, fusions and truncations in 25 the polypeptides of the invention (e.g., the Group B amino acid sequences). Such nucleotide changes may be introduced using techniques such as site-directed mutagenesis, random chemical mutagenesis, exonuclease III deletion, and other recombinant DNA techniques. Altematively, such nucleotide changes may be naturally occurring allelic variants which are isolated by identifying nucleic acid sequences which 30 specifically hybridize to probes comprising at least 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 50, 75, 100, 150, 200, 300, 400, or 500 consecutive bases of one of the sequences of the -82- Group A nucleic acid sequences, and sequences substantially identical thereto (or the sequences complementary thereto) under conditions of high, moderate, or low stringency as provided herein. Immobilized Enzyme Solid Supports 5 The enzymes, fragments thereof and nucleic acids which encode the enzymes and fragments can be affixed to a solid support. This is often economical and efficient in the use of the enzymes in industrial processes. For example, a consortium or cocktail of enzymes (or active fragments thereof, which are used in a specific chemical reaction, can be attached to a solid support and dunked into a process vat. The 10 enzymatic reaction can occur. Then, the solid support can be taken out of the vat, along with the enzymes affixed thereto, for repeated use. In one embodiment of the invention, the isolated nucleic acid is affixed to a solid support. In another embodiment of the invention, the solid support is selected from the group of a gel, a resin, a polymer, a ceramic, a glass, a microelectrode and any combination thereof 15 For example, solid supports useful in this invention include gels. Some examples of gels include sepharose, gelatin, glutaraldehyde, chitosan-treated glutaraldehyde, albumin-glutaraldehyde, chitosan-Xanthan, toyopearl gel (polymer gel), alginate, alginate-polylysine, carrageenan, agarose, glyoxyl agarose, magnetic agarose, dextran-agarose, poly(Carbamoyl Sulfonate) hydrogel, BSA-PEG hydrogel, 20 phosphorylated polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), monoaminoethyl-N-aminoethyl (MANA), amino, or any combination thereof Another solid support useful in the present invention are resins or polymers. Some examples of resins or polymers include cellulose, acrylamide, nylon, rayon, polyester, anion-exchange resin, AMBERLITETM XAD-7, AMBERLITETM XAD-8, 25 AMBERLITE TM IRA-94, AMBERLITETm IRC-50, polyvinyl, polyacrylic, polymethacrylate, or any combination thereof Another type of solid support useful in the present invention is ceramic. Some examples include non-porous ceramic, porous ceramic, Si0 2 , Al0 3 . Another type of solid support useful in the present invention is glass. Some examples include non-porous glass, porus glass, aminopropyl glass or any 30 combination thereof Another type of solid support which can be used is a mcroelectrode. An example is a polyethyleneimine-coated magnetite. Graphitic -83particles can be used as a solid support. Another example of a solid support is a cell, such as a red blood cell. Methods of immobilization There are many methods which would be known to one of skill in the art for 5 immobilizing enzymes or fragments thereof, or nucleic acids, onto a solid support. Some examples of such methods include electrostatic droplet generation, electrochemical means, via adsorption, via covalent binding, via cross-linking, via a chemical reaction or process, via encapsulation, via entrapment, via calcium alginate, or via poly (2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate). Like methods are described in Methods in 10 Enzymology, Immobilized Enzymes and Cells, Part C. 1987. Academic Press. Edited by S. P. Colowick and N. 0. Kaplan. Volume 136; and Immobilization of Enzymes and Cells. 1997. Humana Press. Edited by G. F. Bickerstaff. Series: Methods in Biotechnology, Edited by J. M. Walker. Probes - The isolated nucleic acids of the Group A nucleic acid sequences, 15 sequences substantially identical thereto, complementary sequences, or a fragment comprising at least 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 50, 75, 100, 150, 200, 300, 400, or 500 consecutive bases of one of the foregoing sequences may also be used as probes to determine whether a biological sample, such as a soil sample, contains an organism having a nucleic acid sequence of the invention or an organism from which the nucleic 20 acid was obtained. In such procedures, a biological sample potentially harboring the organism from which the nucleic acid was isolated is obtained and nucleic acids are obtained from the sample. The nucleic acids are contacted with the probe under conditions which permit the probe to specifically hybridize to any complementary sequences which are present therein. 25 Where necessary, conditions which permit the probe to specifically hybridize to complementary sequences may be determined by placing the probe in contact with complementary sequences from samples known to contain the complementary sequence as well as control sequences which do not contain the complementary sequence. Hybridization conditions, such as the salt concentration of the hybridization 30 buffer, the formamide concentration of the hybridization buffer, or the hybridization temperature, can be varied to identify conditions which allow the probe to hybridize -84specifically to complementary nucleic acids. Stringent hybridization conditions are recited herein. Hybridization may be detected by labeling the probe with a detectable agent such as a radioactive isotope, a fluorescent dye or an enzyme capable of catalyzing the 5 formation of a detectable product. Many methods for using the labeled probes to detect the presence of complementary nucleic acids in a sample are familiar to those skilled in the art. These include Southern Blots, Northern Blots, colony hybridization procedures, and dot blots. Protocols for each of these procedures are provided in Ausubel et al. (1997), Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, John Wiley & Sons, 10 Inc., and Sambrook et al. (1989), Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual 2d Ed., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. In one example, a probe DNA is "labeled" with one partner of a specific binding pair (i.e., a ligand) and the other partner of the pair is bound to a solid matrix 15 to provide ease of separation of target from its source. For example, the ligand and specific binding partner can be selected from, in either orientation, the following: (1) an antigen or hapten and an antibody or specific binding fragment thereof; (2) biotin or iminobiotin and avidin or streptavidin; (3) a sugar and a lectin specific therefor; (4) an enzyme and an inhibitor therefor; (5) an apoenzyme and cofactor; (6) 20 complementary homopolymeric oligonucleotides; and (7) a hormone and a receptor therefor. In one example, the solid phase is selected from: (1) a glass or polymeric surface; (2) a packed column of polymeric beads; and (3) magnetic or paramagnetic particles. Alternatively, more than one probe (at least one of which is capable of 25 specifically hybridizing to any complementary sequences which are present in the nucleic acid sample), may be used in an amplification reaction to determine whether the sample contains an organism containing a nucleic acid sequence of the invention (e.g., an organism from which the nucleic acid was isolated). Typically, the probes comprise oligonucleotides. In one embodiment, the amplification reaction may comprise a PCR 30 reaction. PCR protocols are described in Ausubel et al. (1997), supra, and Sambrook et al. (1989), supra. Alternatively, the amplification may comprise a ligase chain -85reaction, 3SR, or strand displacement reaction. (See Barany (1991), PCR Methods andApplications 1:5-16; Fahy et al. (1991), PCR Methods and Applications 1:25-33; and Walker et al. (1992), Nucleic Acid Research 20:1691-1696, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties). 5 Probes derived from sequences near the ends of a sequence as set forth in the Group A nucleic acid sequences, and sequences substantially identical thereto, may also be used in chromosome walking procedures to identify clones containing genomic sequences located adjacent to the nucleic acid sequences as set forth above. Such methods allow the isolation of genes which encode additional proteins from the host 10 organism. An isolated nucleic acid sequence as set forth in the Group A nucleic acid sequences, sequences substantially identical thereto, sequences complementary thereto, or a fragment comprising at least 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 50, 75, 100, 150, 200, 300, 400, or 500 consecutive bases of one of the foregoing sequences may be used as 15 probes to identify and isolate related nucleic acids. In some embodiments, the related nucleic acids may be cDNAs or genomic DNAs from organisms other than the one from which the nucleic acid was isolated. For example, the other organisms may be related organisms. In such procedures, a nucleic acid sample is contacted with the probe under conditions which permit the probe to specifically hybridize to related 20 sequences. Hybridization of the probe to nucleic acids from the related organism is then detected using any of the methods described above. In nucleic acid hybridization reactions, the conditions used to achieve a particular level of stringency will vary, depending on the nature of the nucleic acids being hybridized. For example, the length of the nucleic acids, the amount of 25 complementarity between the nucleic acids, the nucleotide sequence composition (e.g., G-C rich v. A-T rich content), and the nucleic acid type (e.g., RNA v. DNA) can be considered in selecting hybridization conditions. Stringency may be varied by conducting the hybridization at varying temperatures below the melting temperatures of the probes. The melting temperature, Tm, is the temperature (under defined ionic 30 strength and pH) at which 50% of the target sequence hybridizes to a perfectly complementary probe. Stringent conditions are selected to be equal to or about 5 0 C -86lower than the Tm for a particular probe. The melting temperature of the probe may be calculated using the following formulas: For probes between 14 and 70 nucleotides in length the melting temperature (Tm) is calculated using the formula: Tm=81.5+16.6(log [Na*])+0.41(fraction G+C) 5 (600/N) where N is the length of the probe. If the hybridization is carried out in a solution containing formamide, the melting temperature may be calculated using the equation: Tnr=81.5+16.6(og [Na*])+0.4 1(fraction G+C)-(0.63% formamide)-(600/N) where N is the length of the probe. 10 Expression Libraries - Expression libraries can be created using the polynucleotides of the invention in combination with expression vectors and appropriate host cells. The library allows for the in vivo expression of the polypeptides which are encoded by the polynucleotides of the invention. After such expression libraries have been generated one can include the additional step of "biopanning" such 15 libraries prior to screening by cell sorting. The "biopanning" procedure refers to a process for identifying clones having a specified biological activity by screening for sequence identity in a library of clones prepared by (i) selectively isolating target DNA derived from at least one microorganism by use of at least one probe DNA comprising at least a portion of a DNA sequence encoding a polypeptide having a specified 20 biological activity (e.g., nitrilase activity); and (ii) optionally transforming a host with the isolated target DNA to produce a library of clones which are screened for the specified biological activity. The probe DNA used for selectively isolating the target DNA of interest from the DNA derived from at least one microorganism can be a full-length coding region 25 sequence or a partial coding region sequence of DNA for an enzyme of known activity. The original DNA library can be probed using mixtures of probes comprising at least a portion of DNA sequences encoding enzymes having the specified enzyme activity. These probes or probe libraries are single-stranded and the microbial DNA which is probed has been converted into single-stranded form. The probes that are particularly 30 suitable are those derived from DNA encoding enzymes having an activity similar or identical to the specified enzyme activity that is to be screened. -87- Having prepared a multiplicity of clones from DNA selectively isolated from an organism, such clones are screened for a specific enzyme activity and to identify the clones having the specified enzyme characteristics. The screening for enzyme activity may be affected on individual expression 5 clones or may be initially affected on a mixture of expression clones to ascertain whether or not the mixture has one or more specified enzyme activities. If the mixture has a specified enzyme activity, then the individual clones may be rescreened for such enzyme activity or for a more specific activity. Thus, for example, if a clone mixture has nitrilase activity, then the individual clones may be recovered and screened to 10 determine which of such clones has nitrilase activity. As described with respect to one of the above aspects, the invention provides a process for enzyme activity screening of clones containing selected DNA derived from a microorganism which process includes: screening a library for specified enzyme activity, said library including a plurality of clones, said clones having been prepared by 15 recovering from genomic DNA of a microorganism selected DNA, which DNA is selected by hybridization to at least one DNA sequence which is all or a portion of a DNA sequence encoding an enzyme having the specified activity; and transforming a host with the selected DNA to produce clones which are screened for the specified enzyme activity. 20 In one embodiment, a DNA library derived from a microorganism is subjected to a selection procedure to select therefrom DNA which hybridizes to one or more probe DNA sequences which is all or a portion of a DNA sequence encoding an enzyme having the specified enzyme activity by: (a) contacting the single-stranded DNA population from the DNA library with 25 the DNA probe bound to a ligand under stringent hybridization conditions so as to produce a duplex between the probe and a member of the DNA library; (b) contacting the duplex with a solid phase specific binding partner for the ligand so as to produce a solid phase complex; (c) separating the solid phase complex from the non-duplexed members of the 30 DNA library; (d) denaturing the duplex to release the member of the DNA library; -88- (e) creating a complementary DNA strand of the member from step (d) so as to make the member a double-stranded DNA; (f) introducing the double-stranded DNA into a suitable host so as to express a polypeptide which is encoded by the member DNA; and 5 (g) determining whether the polypeptide expressed exhibits the specified enzymatic activity. In another aspect, the process includes a preselection to recover DNA including signal or secretion sequences. In this manner it is possible to select from the genomic DNA population by hybridization as hereinabove described only DNA which includes a signal or 10 secretion sequence. The following paragraphs describe the protocol for this embodiment of the invention, the nature and function of secretion signal sequences in general and a specific exemplary application of such sequences to an assay or selection process. A particularly embodiment of this aspect further comprises, after (a) but before (b) above, the steps of: 15 (i) contacting the single-stranded DNA population of (a) with a ligand-bound oligonucleotide probe that is complementary to a secretion signal sequence unique to a given class of proteins under hybridization conditions to form a double-stranded DNA duplex; (ii) contacting the duplex of(i) with a solid phase specific binding partner for 20 said ligand so as to produce a solid phase complex; (iii) separating the solid phase complex from the single-stranded DNA population of (a); (iv) denaturing the duplex so as to release single-stranded DNA members of the genomic population; and 25 (v) separating the single-stranded DNA members from the solid phase bound probe. The DNA which has been selected and isolated to include a signal sequence is then subjected to the selection procedure hereinabove described to select and isolate therefrom DNA which binds to one or more probe DNA sequences derived from DNA 30 encoding an enzyme(s) having the specified enzyme activity. This procedure is -89described and exemplified in U.S. Pat. No- 6,054,267, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. In vivo biopanning may be performed utilizing a (fluorescence activated cell sorter) FACS-based machine. Complex gene libraries are constructed with vectors 5 which contain elements which stabilize transcribed RNA. For example, the inclusion of sequences which result in secondary structures such as hairpins which are designed to flank the transcribed regions of the RNA would serve to enhance their stability, thus increasing their half life within the cell. The probe molecules used in the biopanning process consist of oligonucleotides labeled with reporter molecules that only fluoresce 10 upon binding of the probe to a target molecule. These probes are introduced into the recombinant cells from the library using one of several transformation methods. The probe molecules bind to the transcribed target mRNA resulting in DNA/RNA heteroduplex molecules. Binding of the Probe to a target will yield a fluorescent signal that is detected and sorted by the FACS machine during.the screening process. 15 In some embodiments, the nucleic acid encoding one of the polypeptides of the Group B amino acid sequences, sequences substantially identical thereto, or fragments comprising at least about 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 50, 75, 100, or 150 consecutive amino acids thereof is assembled in appropriate phase with a leader sequence capable of directing secretion of the translated polypeptide or fragment thereof. Optionally, 20 the nucleic acid can encode a fusion polypeptide in which one of the polypeptides of the Group B amino acid sequences, sequences substantially identical thereto, or fragments comprising at least 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 50, 75, 100, or 150 consecutive amino acids thereof is fused to heterologous peptides or polypeptides, such as N-terminal identification peptides which impart desired characteristics, such as 25 increased stability or simplified purification. The host cell may be any of the host cells familiar to those skilled in the art, including prokaryotic cells, eukaryotic cells, mammalian cells, insect cells, or plant cells. As representative examples of appropriate hosts, there may be mentioned: bacterial cells, such as E. coli, Streptomyces, Bacillus subtilis, Salmonella 30 typhimurium and various species within the genera Pseudomonas, Streptomyces, and Staphylococcus, fungal cells, such as yeast, insect cells such as Drosophila S2 and -90- Spodoptera Sf9, animal cells such as CHO, COS or Bowes melanoma, and adenoviruses. The selection of an appropriate host is within the abilities of those skilled in the art. Where appropriate, the engineered host cells can be cultured in conventional 5 nutrient media modified as appropriate for activating promoters, selecting transformants or amplifying the genes of the invention. Following transformation of a suitable host strain and growth of the host strain to an appropriate cell density, the selected promoter may be induced by appropriate means (e.g., temperature shift or chemical induction) and the cells may be cultured for an additional period to allow 10 them to produce the desired polypeptide or fragment thereof Cells are typically harvested by centrifugation, disrupted by physical or chemical means, and the resulting crude extract is retained for further purification. Microbial cells employed for expression of proteins can be disrupted by any convenient method, including freeze-thaw cycling, sonication, mechanical disruption, or use of cell 15 lysing agents. Such methods are well known to those skilled in the art. The expressed polypeptide or fragment thereof can be recovered and purified from recombinant cell cultures by methods including ammonium sulfate or ethanol precipitation, acid extraction, anion or cation exchange chromatography, phosphocellulose chromatography, hydrophobic interaction chromatography, affinity chromatography, 20 hydroxylapatite chromatography and lectin chromatography. Protein refolding steps can be used, as necessary, in completing configuration of the polypeptide. If desired, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) can be employed for final purification steps. Various mammalian cell culture systems can also be employed to express 25 recombinant protein. Examples of mammalian expression systems include the COS-7 lines of monkey kidney fibroblasts (described by Gluzman (1981), Cell 23:175,), and other cell lines capable of expressing proteins from a compatible vector, such as the C 127, 3T3, CHO, HeLa and BHK cell lines. 30 The invention also relates to variants of the polypeptides of the Group B amino acid sequences, sequences substantially identical thereto, or fragments comprising at -91least 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 50, 75, 100, or 150 consecutive amino acids thereof In particular, the variants may differ in amino acid sequence from the polypeptides of the Group B amino acid sequences, and sequences substantially identical thereto, by one or more substitutions, additions, deletions, fusions and truncations, which may be 5 present in any combination. The variants may be naturally occurring or created in vitro. In particular, such variants may be created using genetic engineering techniques such as site directed mutagenesis, random chemical mutagenesis, Exonuclease III deletion procedures, and standard cloning techniques. Alternatively, such variants, fragments, analogs, or 10 derivatives may be created using chernical synthesis or modification procedures. Other methods of making variants are also familiar to those skilled in the art. These include procedures in which nucleic acid sequences obtained from natural isolates are modified to generate nucleic acids which encode polypeptides having characteristics which enhance their value in industrial or laboratory applications. In 15 such procedures, a large number of variant sequences having one or more nucleotide differences with respect to the sequence obtained from the natural isolate are generated and characterized. Typically, these nucleotide differences result in amino acid changes with respect to the polypeptides encoded by the nucleic acids from the natural isolates. Error Prone PCR 20 For example, variants may be created using error prone PCR. In error prone PCR, PCR is performed under conditions where the copying fidelity of the DNA polymerase is low, such that a high rate of point mutations is obtained along the entire length of the PCR product. Error prone PCR is described in Leung et al. (1989), Technique 1:11-15 and Caldwell et al. (1992), PCR Methods Applic. 2:28-33, the 25 disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Briefly, in such procedures, nucleic acids to be mutagenized are mixed with PCR primers and reagents (e.g., reaction buffer, MgC 2 , MnC 2 , Taq polymerase and an appropriate concentration of dNTPs) for achieving a high rate of point mutation along the entire length of the PCR product. For example, the reaction may be performed using 20 30 fmoles of nucleic acid to be mutagenized, 30 pmoles of each PCR primer, a reaction buffer comprising 50mM KCl, 10mM Tris HCl (pH 8.3) and 0.01% gelatin, 7mM -92- MgCl 2 , 0.5mM MnCl 2 , 5 units of Taq polymerase, 0.2mM dGTP, 0.2mM dATP, 1mM dCTP, and ImM dTTP. PCR may be performed for 30 cycles of 94 0 C for I min, 45 0 C for 1 min, and 72*C for 1 min. However, it will be appreciated that these parameters may be varied as appropriate. The mutagenized nucleic acids are cloned into an 5 appropriate vector and the activities of the polypeptides encoded by the mutagenized nucleic acids are evaluated. Variants also may be created using oligonucleotide directed mutagenesis to generate site-specific mutations in any cloned DNA of interest. Oligonucleotide mutagenesis is described in Reidhaar-Olson et al. (1988), Science, 241:53-57, the 10 disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Briefly, in such procedures a plurality of double stranded oligonucleotides bearing one or more mutations to be introduced into the cloned DNA are synthesized and inserted into the cloned DNA to be mutagenized. Clones containing the mutagenized DNA are recovered and the activities of the polypeptides they encode are assessed. 15 Assembly PCR Another method for generating variants is assembly PCR, Assembly PCR involves the assembly of a PCR product from a mixture of small DNA fragments. A large number of different PCR reactions occur in parallel in the same vial, with the products of one reaction priming the products of another reaction. Assembly PCR is 20 described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,965,408, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Sexual PCR mutagenesis Still another method of generating variants is sexual PCR mutagenesis. In sexual PCR mutagenesis, forced homologous recombination occurs between DNA 25 molecules of different but highly related DNA sequence in vitro, as a result of random fragmentation of the DNA molecule based on sequence homology, followed by fixation of the crossover by primer extension in a PCR reaction. Sexual PCR mutagenesis is described in Stemmer (1994), Proc. Natl. A cad. Sci. USA 91:10747 10751, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 30 Briefly, in such procedures a plurality of nucleic acids to be recombined are digested with DNAse to generate fragments having an average size of about 50-200 -93nucleotides. Fragments of the desired average size are purified and resuspended in a PCR mixture. PCR is conducted under conditions which facilitate recombination between the nucleic acid fragments. For example, PCR may be performed by resuspending the purified fragments at a concentration of 10-30 ng/lp in a solution of 5 0.2mM of each dNTP, 2.2mM MgCl 2 , 50mM KCI, 10mM Tris HCl, pH 9.0, and 0.1% Triton X-100. 2.5 units of Taq polymerase per 100p1i of reaction mixture is added and PCR is performed using the following regime: 94 0 C for 60 seconds, 94 0 C for 30 seconds, 50-55*C for 30 seconds, 72 0 C for 30 seconds (30-45 times) and 72 0 C for 5 minutes. However, it will be appreciated that these parameters may be varied as 10 -appropriate. In some embodiments, oligonucleotides may be included in the PCR reactions. In other embodiments, the Klenow fragment of DNA polymerase I may be used in a first set of PCR reactions and Taq polymerase may be used in a subsequent set of PCR reactions. Recombinant sequences are isolated and the activities of the polypeptides they encode are assessed. 15 In vivo Mutagenesis Variants may also be created by in vivo mutagenesis. In some embodiments, random mutations in a sequence of interest are generated by propagating the sequence of interest in a bacterial strain, such as an E coli strain, which carries mutations in one or more of the DNA repair pathways. Such "mutator" strains have a higher random 20 mutation rate than that of a wild-type parent. Propagating the DNA in one of these strains will eventually generate random mutations within the DNA. Mutator strains suitable for use for in vivo mutagenesis are described in PCT Publication No. WO 91/16427 the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Cassette Mutagenesis 25 Variants may also be generated using cassette mutagenesis. In cassette mutagenesis a small region of a double stranded DNA molecule is replaced with a synthetic oligonucleotide "cassette" that differs from the native sequence. The oligonucleotide often contains completely and/or partially randomized native sequence. -94- Recursive Ensemble Mutagenesis Recursive ensemble mutagenesis may also be used to generate variants Recursive ensemble mutagenesis is an algorithm for protein engineering (protein mutagenesis) developed to produce diverse populations of phenotypically related 5 mutants whose members differ in amino acid sequence. This method uses a feedback mechanism to control successive rounds of combinatorial cassette mutagenesis. Recursive ensemble mutagenesis is described in Arkin et al. (1992), Proc. NatL A cad. Sci USA, 89:7811-7815, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 10 Exponential Ensemble Mutagenesis In some embodiments, variants are created using exponential ensemble mutagenesis. Exponential ensemble mutagenesis is a process for generating combinatorial libraries with a high percentage of unique and functional mutants, wherein small groups of residues are randomized in parallel to identify, at each altered 15 position, amino acids which lead to functional proteins. Exponential ensemble mutagenesis is described in Delegrave et al. (1993), Biotechnology Research 11:1548 1552, the disclosure of which incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Random and site-directed mutagenesis Random and site-directed mutagenesis is described in Arnold (1993), Current 20 Opinions in Biotechnology 4:450-455, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Shuffling Procedures In some embodiments, the variants are created using shuffling procedures wherein portions of a plurality of nucleic. acids which encode distinct polypeptides are 25 fused together to create chimeric nucleic acid sequences which encode chimeric polypeptides as described in U.S. Patent. Nos. 5,965,408 and 5,939,250, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties. The variants of the polypeptides of the Group B amino acid sequences may be variants in which one or more of the amino acid residues of the polypeptides of the 30 Group B amino acid sequences are substituted with a conserved or non-conserved -95amino acid residue (e.g, a conserved amino acid residue) and such substituted amino acid residue may or may not be one encoded by the genetic code. Conservative substitutions are those that substitute a given amino acid in a polypeptide by another amino acid of like characteristics. Typically seen as 5 conservative substitutions are the following replacements: replacements of an aliphatic amino acid such as Alanine, Valine, Leucine and Isoleucine with another aliphatic amino acid; replacement of a Serine with a Threonine or vice versa; replacement of an acidic residue such as Aspartic acid and Glutamic acid with another acidic residue; replacement of a residue bearing an amide group, such as Asparagine and Glutamine, 10 with another residue bearing an amide group; exchange of a basic residue such as Lysine and Arginine with another basic residue; and replacement of an aromatic residue such as Phenylalanine, Tyrosine with another aromatic residue. Other variants are those in which one or more of the amino acid residues of the polypeptides of the Group B amino acid sequences includes a substituent group. 15 Still other variants are those in which the polypeptide is associated with another compound, such as a compound to increase the half-life of the polypeptide (for example, polyethylene glycol). Additional variants are those in which additional amino acids are fused to the polypeptide, such as a leader sequence, a secretory sequence, a proprotein sequence or 20 a sequence which facilitates purification, enrichment, or stabilization of the polypeptide. In some embodiments, the fragments, derivatives and analogs retain the same biological function or activity as the polypeptides of the Group B amino acid sequences, and sequences substantially identical thereto. In other embodiments, the 25 fragment, derivative, or analog includes a proprotein, such that the fragment, derivative, or analog can be activated by cleavage of the proprotein portion to produce an active polypeptide. Another aspect of the invention is polypeptides or fragments thereof which have at least about 85%, at least about 90%, at least about 95%, or more than about 30 95% homology to one of the polypeptides of the Group B amino acid sequences, sequences substantially identical thereto, or a fragment comprising at least 5, 10, 15, -96- 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 50, 75, 100, or 150 consecutive amino acids thereof Percent identity may be determined using any of the programs described above which aligns the polypeptides or fragments being compared and determines the extent of amino acid homology or similarity between them. It will be appreciated that amino acid 5 "homology" includes conservative amino acid substitutions such as those described above. In one embodiment of the invention, the fragments can be used to generate antibodies. These antibodies can be used to immobilize nitrilases can be used in industrial processes. Polynucleotides encoding the nitrilases of the present invention can be used in a similar way. 10 Alternatively, the homologous polypeptides or fragments may be obtained through biochemical enrichment or purification procedures. The sequence of potentially homologous polypeptides or fragments may be determined by proteolytic digestion, gel electrophoresis and/or microsequencing. The sequence of the prospective homologous polypeptide or fragment can be compared to one of the 15 polypeptides of the Group B amino acid sequences, sequences substantially identical thereto, or a fragment comprising at least about 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 50, 75, 100, or 150 consecutive amino acids thereof using any of the programs described herein. Another aspect of the invention is an assay for identifying fragments or variants 20 of the Group B amino acid sequences, or sequences substantially identical thereto, which retain the enzymatic function of the polypeptides of the Group B amino acid sequences, and sequences substantially identical thereto. For example, the fragments or variants of the polypeptides, may be used to catalyze biochemical reactions, which indicate that said fragment or variant retains the enzymatic activity of the polypeptides 25 in Group B amino acid sequences. The assay for determining if fragments of variants retain the enzymatic activity of the polypeptides of the Group B amino acid sequences, and sequences substantially identical thereto includes the steps of: contacting the polypeptide fragment or variant with a substrate molecule under conditions which allow the polypeptide fragment or 30 variant to function, and detecting either a decrease in the level of substrate or an -97increase in the level of the specific reaction product of the reaction between the polypeptide and substrate. The polypeptides of the Group B amino acid sequences, sequences substantially identical thereto or fragments comprising at least 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 50, 75, 5 100, or 150 consecutive amino acids thereof may be used in a variety of applications. For example, the polypeptides or fragments thereof may be used to catalyze biochemical reactions. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a process for utilizing a polypeptide of the Group B amino acid sequences, and sequences substantially identical thereto or polynucleotides encoding such 10 polypeptides for hydrolyzing aminonitriles. In such procedures, a substance containing a haloalkane compound is contacted with one of the polypeptides of the Group B amino acid sequences, and sequences substantially identical thereto under conditions which facilitate the hydrolysis of the compound. Antibodies - The polypeptides of Group B amino acid sequences, sequences 15 substantially identical thereto or fragments comprising at least 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 50, 75, 100, or 150 consecutive amino acids thereof, may also be used to generate antibodies which bind specifically to the enzyme polypeptides or fragments. The resulting antibodies may be used in immunoaffinity chromatography procedures to isolate or purify the polypeptide or to determine whether the polypeptide is present in a 20 biological sample. In such procedures, a protein preparation, such as an extract, or a biological sample is contacted with an antibody capable of specifically binding to one of the polypeptides of the Group B amino acid sequences, sequences substantially identical thereto, or fragments of the foregoing sequences. in inmunoaffinity procedures, the antibody is attached to a solid support, such 25 as a bead or column matrix. The protein preparation is placed in contact with the antibody under conditions under which the antibody specifically binds to one of the polypeptides of the Group B amino acid sequences, sequences substantially identical thereto, or fragments thereof After a wash to remove non-specifically bound proteins, the specifically bound polypeptides are eluted. 30 The ability of proteins in a biological sample to bind to the antibody may be determined using any of a variety of procedures familiar to those skilled in the art. For -98example, binding may be determined by labeling the antibody with a detectable label such as a fluorescent agent, an enzymatic label, or a radioisotope. Alternatively, binding of the antibody to the sample may be detected using a secondary antibody having such a detectable label thereon. Particular assays include ELISA assays, 5 sandwich assays, radioimmunoassays, and Western Blots. The antibodies of the invention can be attached to solid supports and used to immobilize nitrilases of the present invention. Such immobilized nitrilases can be used, as described above, in industrial chemical processes for the conversion of nitriles to a wide range of useful products and intermediates. 10 Polyclonal antibodies generated against the polypeptides of the Group B amino acid sequences, and sequences substantially identical thereto, or fragments comprising at least 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 50, 75, 100, or 150 consecutive amino acids thereof can be obtained by direct injection of the polypeptides into an animal or by administering the polypeptides to an animal. The antibody so obtained will then bind 15 the polypeptide itself. In this manner, even a sequence encoding only a fragment of the polypeptide can be used to generate antibodies which may bind to the whole native polypeptide. Such antibodies can then be used to isolate the polypeptide from cells expressing that polypeptide. For preparation of monoclonal antibodies, any technique which provides 20 antibodies produced by continuous cell line cultures can be used. Examples include the hybridoma technique (Kohler and Milstein (1975), Nature, 256:495-497, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference), the trioma technique, the human B-cell hybridoma technique (Kozbor et al. (1983), Immunology Today 4:72, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference), and the EBV-hybridoma technique (Cole et 25 al. (1985), in Monoclonal Antibodies and Cancer Therapy, Alan R. Liss, Inc., pp. 77 96, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety). Techniques described for the production of single chain antibodies (U.S. Pat. No. 4,946,778, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety) can be adapted to produce single chain antibodies to the polypeptides of, for 30 example, the Group B amino acid sequences, or fragments thereof Alternatively, -99transgenic mice may be used to express humanized antibodies to these polypeptides or fragments. Antibodies generated against a polypeptide of the Group B amino acid sequences, sequences substantially identical thereto, or fragments comprising at least 5, 5 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 50, 75, 100, or 150 consecutive amino acids thereof may be used in screening for similar polypeptides from other organisms and samples. In such techniques, polypeptides from the organism are contacted with the antibody and those polypeptides which specifically bind to the antibody are detected. Any of the procedures described above may be used to detect antibody binding. One such 10 screening assay is described in "Methods for Measuring Cellulase Activities", Methods in Enzymology, 160:87-116, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. Use of Whole Cells Comprising A Nucleic Acid The invention provides for the use of whole cells which have been transformed with nucleic acid (or an active fragment thereof) encoding one or more of the nitrilases 15 of the invention. The invention also provides for the use of such a whole cell in performing a nitrilase reaction on a substrate. Therefore, this invention provides for methods of hydrolyzing a cyanohydrin or aminonitrile linkage using a whole cell comprising at least one nucleic acid or polypeptide disclosed herein (SEQ ID NOS:I 386). For example, a whole cell which is stably transfected (the invention also 20 encompasses transiently transfected or transformed whole cells) with a nucleic acid encoding a nitrilase is an embodiment of the invention. Such a cell is useful as a reagent in a reaction mixture to act on a substrate and exhibit nitrilase activity. 25 Sequence Analysis Software Percent identity or homology between two or more sequences is typically measured using sequence analysis software (e.g., Sequence Analysis Software Package of the Genetics Computer Group, University of Wisconsin Biotechnology Center, Madison, WI). Such software matches similar sequences by assigning a percent 30 identity or homology to various deletions, substitutions and other modifications. The term "percent identity," in the context of two or more nucleic acids or polypeptide -100sequences, refers to the percentage of nucleotides or amino acid residues that are the same when compared after being aligned for maximum correspondence over a designated region or comparison "window." Under some algorithms, a conservative amino acid substitution can be considered "identical" and a change at a wobble site of a 5 codon can be considered "identical." "Alignment" refers to the process of lining up two or more sequences to achieve maximal correspondence for the purpose of assessing the degree of identity or homology, as defined within the context of the relevant alignment algorithm. For sequence comparison, typically one sequence acts as a reference sequence, 10 to which test sequences are compared. When using a sequence comparison algorithm, test and reference sequences are entered into a computer, subsequence coordinates are designated, if necessary, and sequence algorithm program parameters are designated for a particular algorithm. Default program parameters can be used, or alternative parameters can be designated. The sequence comparison algorithm then calculates the 15 percent identity or homology for the test sequences relative to the reference sequence, based on the program parameters. A "comparison window", as used herein, is a segment of the contiguous positions in a nucleic acid or an amino acid sequence consisting of from 20 to 600, usually about 50 to about 200, more usually about 100 to about 150 nucleotides or 20 residues, which may be compared to a reference sequence of the same or different number of contiguous positions after the two sequences are optimally aligned. Methods of alignment of sequences for comparison are well-known in the art. Optimal. alignment of sequences for comparison can be conducted, e.g., by the local homology algorithm of Smith and Waterman (1981), Adv. AppL Math. 2:482, by the homology 25 alignment algorithm of Needleman and Wunsch (1970), J. Mo Biol 48:443, by the search for similarity method of Pearson and Lipman (1988), Proc. Nall. Acad. Sci USA 85:2444-2448, by computerized implementations of these algorithms, or by manual alignment and visual inspection. Other algorithms for determining homology or identity include, for example, the BLAST program (Basic Local Alignment Search 30 Tool, National Center for Biological Information), BESTFIT, FASTA, and TFASTA (Wisconsin Genetics Software Package, Genetics Computer Group, Madison, WI), -101- ALIGN, AMAS (Analysis of Multiply Aligned Sequences), AMPS (Alignment of Multiple Protein Sequence), ASSET (Aligned Segment Statistical Evaluation Tool), BANDS, BESTSCOR, BIOSCAN (Biological Sequence Comparative Analysis Node), BLIMPS (BLocks IMProved Searcher), Intervals and Points, BMB, CLUSTAL V, 5 CLUSTAL W, CONSENSUS, LCONSENSUS, WCONSENSUS, Smith-Waterman algorithm, DARWIN, Las Vegas algorithm, FNAT (Forced Nucleotide Alignment Tool), Framealign, Framesearch, DYNAMIC, FILTER, FSAP (Fristensky Sequence Analysis Package), GAP (Global Alignment Program), GENAL, GIBBS, GenQuest, ISSC (Sensitive Sequence Comparison), LALIGN (Local Sequence Alignment), LCP 10 (Local Content Program), MACAW (Multiple Alignment Construction and Analysis Workbench), MAP (Multiple Alignment Program), MBLKP, MBLKN, PIMA (Pattern-Induced Multi-sequence Alignment), SAGA (Sequence Alignment by Genetic Algorithm) and WHAT-IF. Such alignment programs can also be used to screen genome databases to identify polynucleotide sequences having substantially identical 15 sequences. A number of genome databases are available, for example, a substantial portion of the human genome is available as part of the Human Genome Sequencing Project (J. Roach, http://weber.u.Washington.edu/-roach/human_ genome_ progress 2.html) (Gibbs, 1995). At least twenty-one other genomes have already been sequenced, including, for example, M. genitalium (Fraser et al., 1995), M. jannaschii 20 (Bult et al., 1996), H. influenzae (Fleischmann et al., 1995), E. coli (Blattner et al., 1997), and yeast (S. cerevisiae) (Mewes et al., 1997), and D. melanogaster (Adams et al., 2000). Significant progress has also been made in sequencing the genomes of model organism, such as mouse, C elegans, and Arabadopsis sp. Several databases containing genomic information annotated with some functional information are 25 maintained by different organizations, and are accessible via the internet, for example, http://wwwtigr.org/tdb; http://www.genetics.wisc.edu; http://genome www.stanford.edu/-ball; http://hiv-web.lanl.gov; http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov; http://www.ebi.ac.uk; http://Pasteur.fr/other/biology; and http://www.genome.whmit.edu. 30 . Examples of useful algorithms are the BLAST and the BLAST 2.0 algorithms, which are described in Altschul et al. (1977), Nuc. Acids Res. 25:33 89-3402, and -102- Altschul et al. (1990), J. MoL Biot 215:403-410, respectively. Software for performing BLAST analyses is publicly available through the National Center for Biotechnology Information (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/). This algorithm involves first identifying high scoring sequence pairs (HSPs) by identifying short words of 5 length W in the query sequence, which either match or satisfy some positive-valued threshold score T when aligned with a word of the same length in a database sequence. T is referred to as the neighborhood word score threshold (Altschul et al., supra). These initial neighborhood word hits act as seeds for initiating searches to find longer HSPs containing them. The word hits are extended in both directions along each 10 sequence for as far as the cumulative alignment score can be increased. Cumulative scores are calculated using the parameter M (reward score for a pair of matching residues; always >0). For amino acid sequences, a scoring matrix is used to calculate the cumulative score. Extension of the word hits in each direction are halted when: the cumulative alignment score falls off by the quantity X from its maximum achieved 15 value; the cumulative score goes to zero or below, due to the accumulation of one or more negative-scoring residue alignments; or the end of either sequence is reached. The BLAST algorithm parameters W, T, and X determine the sensitivity and speed of the alignment. For nucleotide sequences, the BLASTN program uses as defaults a wordlength (W) of 11, an expectation (E) of 10, M=5, N=-4 and a comparison of both 20 strands. For amino acid sequences, the BLASTP program uses as defaults a wordlength (W) of 3, an expectation (E) of 10, and the BLOSUM62 scoring matrix (see Henikoff and Henikoff (1989), Proc. NaIL Acad. Sci. USA 89:10915). The BLAST algorithm also performs a statistical analysis of the similarity between two sequences (see, e.g., Karlin and Altschul (1993), Proc. NatL Acad Sci, 25 USA 90:5873). One measure of similarity provided by BLAST algorithm is the smallest sum probability (P(N)), which provides an indication of the probability by which a match between two nucleotide or amino acid sequences would occur by chance. For example, a nucleic acid is considered similar to a references sequence if the smallest sum probability in a comparison of the test nucleic acid to the reference 30 nucleic acid is less than about 0.2, less than about 0.01, or less than about 0.001. -103- In one embodiment, protein and nucleic acid sequence homologies are evaluated using the Basic Local Alignment Search Tool ("BLAST"). In particular, five specific BLAST programs are used to perform the following task: (1) BLASTP and BLAST3 compare an.amino acid query sequence 5 against a protein sequence database; (2) BLASTN compares a nucleotide query sequence against a nucleotide sequence database; (3) BLASTX compares the six-frame conceptual translation products of a query nucleotide sequence (both strands) against a protein sequence 10 database; (4) TBLASTN compares a query protein sequence against a nucleotide sequence database translated in all six reading frames (both strands); and (5) TBLASTX compares the six-frame translations of a nucleotide query sequence against the six-frame translations of a nucleotide sequence database. 15 The BLAST programs identify homologous sequences by identifying similar segments, which are referred to herein as "high-scoring segment pairs," between a query amino or nucleic acid sequence and a test sequence which may be obtained from a protein or nucleic acid sequence database. High-scoring segment pairs are identified (i.e., aligned) by means of a scoring matrix, many of which are known in the art. In 20 one example, the scoring-matrix used is the BLOSUM62 matrix (Gonnet et al. (1992), Science 256:1443-1445; Henikoff and Henikoff (1993), Proteins 17:49-6 1). In another example, the PAM or PAM250 matrices may also be used (see, e.g., Schwartz and Dayhoff, eds. (1978), Matrices for Detecting Distance Relationships: Atlas of Protein Sequence and Structure, Washington: National Biomedical Research 25 Foundation). BLAST programs are accessible through the U.S. National Library of Medicine, e.g., at www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. The parameters used with the above algorithms may be adapted depending on the sequence length and degree of homology studied. In some embodiments, the parameters may be the default parameters used by the algorithms in the absence of 30 instructions from the user. -104- In a particular embodiment, the invention provides a method for modifying small molecules, comprising contacting a polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide described herein or enzymatically active fragments thereof with a small molecule to produce a modified small molecule. A library of modified small molecules is tested to 5 determine if a modified small molecule is present within the library which exhibits a desired activity. A specific biocatalytic reaction which produces the modified small molecule of desired activity is identified by systematically eliminating each of the biocatalytic reactions used to produce a portion of the library, and then testing the small molecules produced in the portion of the library for the presence or absence of 10 the modified small molecule with the desired activity. The specific biocatalytic reactions, which produce the modified small molecule of, desired activity is optionally repeated. The biocatalytic reactions are conducted with a group of biocatalysts that react with distinct structural moieties found within the structure of a small molecule, each biocatalyst is specific for one structural moiety or a group of related structural 15 moieties; and each biocatalyst reacts with many different small molecules which contain the distinct structural moiety. Some embodiments of the use of the nitrilases are: a-hydroxy acid - Nitrilases produce a-hydroxy acids through hydrolysis of cyanohydrins. Production of mandelic acid and derivatives thereof is an example of 20 this. A significant application of this type involves commercial production of (R) mandelic acid in both high yield and high enantioselectivity from mandelonitrile. Mandelic acid and derivatives have found broad application as intermediates and resolving agents for the production of many chiral pharmaceutical and agricultural products. Previous attempts to employ the few known nitrilases in processes using 25 analogous substrates have been plagued by significantly lower activity, productivity, and selectivity. -105- O H SEQ ID NOS: 385, 386 CN _ N CQH pH = 8, 3* (R) 98%ee completoonv O H O H NC QH F C QH N N CQH 98%ee 99%ee 98%ee Phenyllactic acid derivatives An additional application is in the production of (S)-phenyl lactic acid 5 derivatives in both high yield and high enantioselectivity. Phenyl lactic acid derivatives have found broad application in the production of many chiral pharmaceutical and agricultural products. SEQ ID NOS: E- HC N 103, 104 F, C 0 O H 0H PH = 8,00C0 (S) 98%ee completcon. C 0N OOH H CO O H COO 97% 96% 97% 10 -106- 3-hydroxy acid With important commercial considerations, nitrilases are provided produce either enantiomer of4-cyano-3-hydroxybutyric acid, the (R)-enanatiomer of which is a key intermediate in the synthesis of the blockbuster drug LIPITORT . 5 OH SEQ ID NOS: 109,110 OH NC CN - NC COO H hydroxyglutaryl nitrile (R)-3-hydroxy-4-cyano-butyric acid Selected Nitrilases QH NC --- COO H 0 OH OH 0 (S)-3-hydroxy-4-cyano-butyric acid N N H F LiPITOR The following nitrilases are more examples of nitrilases useful in converting hydroxyglutarylnitrile to (R)-3-hydroxy-4-cyano-butyric acid: SEQ ID NOS:205, 206, SEQ ID NOS:207, 208, SEQ ID NOS: 195, 196, SEQ ID NOS:43, 44, SEQ ID 10 NOS:321, 322, and SEQ ID NOS:237, 238. The above schematic indicates that "selected nitrilases" can be used to convert hydroxyglutarylnitrile to (S)-3-hydroxy-4 cyano-butyric acid: SEQ ID NOS:107, 108, SEQ ID NOS:109, 110, SEQ ID NOS:1 11, 112, SEQ ID NOS:127, 128, SEQ ID NOS:129, 130, SEQ ID NOS:133, 134, SEQ ID NOS:113, 114, SEQ ID NOS:145, 146, SEQ ID NOS:101, 102, SEQ 15 ID NOS:179, 180, SEQ ID NOS:201, 202, SEQ ID NOS:159, 160, SEQ ID NOS:177, 178, SEQ ID NOS:181, 182, SEQ ID NOS:183, 184, SEQ ID NOS:185, 186, SEQ ID NOS:57, 58, SEQ ID NOS:197, 198, SEQ ID NOS:59, 60, SEQ ID NOS:67, 68, and SEQ ID NOS:359, 360. The invention will be further described with reference to the following 20 examples; however, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to such -107examples. Rather, in view of the present disclosure which describes the current best mode for practicing the invention, many modifications and variations would present themselves to those ofskill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of this invention. All changes, modifications, and variations coming within the meaning 5 and range of equivalency of the claims are to be considered within their scope. Example 1 Phagemid infections For each library to be screened for nitrilases, an infection was set up as follows: 10 5ml of an OD 6 00 nm=1 resuspension of SEL700 cells and Iml of the phagenild library to be screened were combined. The combination was incubated in a 37"C waterbath for 45 mii. Using the infection, serial dilutions were made in 10mM MgSO 4 , using 10pl aliquots of the infection. 15 titer of library dilutions to make 10 5 efui/ml 10-1 dilution -10 cfu/mi 10', 10-2 dilution -107 cf/ml 10', 10- 2 , 10- 3 dilution 20 60pl of each of the following dilutions were deposited onto a small LB-kan" plate: titer of library dilutions to make 25 -10 cfu/ml undiluted infection, 10~ 1 dilution ~106 efo/ml 10-', 10- 2 dilutions ~107 cfu/ml 10-2, 10- dilutions -108- The cells in the infection were centrifuged in a tabletop centrifuge at 4"C, 4.6k rpm, 10 min to form pellets. The supernatant was decanted from the resulting pellets. The cells were resuspended in residual liquid. All of the resuspended cells were deposited onto a single large LB-kan 0 plate. All plates were incubated at 30'C 5 overnight. Example 2 Selection Screenings The cells of each infection plate were resuspended with -4mls 10mM MgSO 4 . 10 The resuspensions were placed in a tube. The remaining cells on each plate were resuspended with -3mIs 10mM MgSO4 and combined with the first resuspension from the same plate. The volume of each tube was brought to 12m1 with 10mM MgSO4, The tubes were vortexed vigorously. The tubes were centrifuged in a tabletop centrifuge at 4 0 C and 4.6k for 10mM to form pellets. The supernatant was decanted 15 from each resuspension. The washed cells in each tube were resuspended with 10mi 10mM MgSO 4 . The resuspensions from each library were stored at 4 0 C until the selection cultures were ready to be set up. For each resuspension, selection cultures were set up using the following process: 20 1) The nitrilase selection medium was prepared, using: 1XM9 medium with 0.2% glucose, no nitrogen and 50pg/rn kanamycin (for pBK phagemid libraries only; use ampicillin for pBS libraries). 2) 5ml of the medium was aliquoted into a 50rni screw top conical tube. 25 3) 25p of the stored resuspension was added to the tube. 4) 5pl of adiponitrile was added to the tube, to bring the final concentration to 8.8mM. Additional nitrile substrates may be used, in place of adiponitrile. 5) The resulting combination was cultured at 304C. 30 Steps 1-5 were repeated for each nitrile substrate. -109- Example 3 Isolation of a positive nitrilase clone from selection cultures 5 Ten (10) pl of selection culture with growth was streaked out onto a small LB kan 0 plate and allowed to grow for 2 nights at 30'C. Five isolated cfu were picked and each was grown in 2rtnl nitrilase selection medium at 30'C. Each culture was monitored (where growth indicates positive cfu was picked), and was removed when monitoring indicated that it was in a stationary phase of growth. One (1) rl of culture 10 was used to do a plasmid preparation and was eluted with 40pl elution buffer. Five to eight (5-8) pl DNA was cut with Pst I/Xho 1 or Sac I/Kpn I restriction enzyrnes to remove insert from vector. A restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) determination was carried out to identify the size of the insert. The insert was sequenced. 15 Example 4 Screening and Characterization of Nitrilases Nitrilases of the invention were screened against target substrates. Of those showing hydrolytic activity in a primary screen, enzymes with enantioselectivities above 20% enantiomeric excess (ee) were selected for further characterization. Those 20 enzymes were selected based on: 1) having activity against one of the substrates of interest and 2) exhibition of greater than 35% ee (enantiomeric excess). The results of this screening process are set forth in Table 1 above. The products used for screening were: D-Phenylglycine, L-Phenyllactic acid, (R) 2-chloromandelic acid, (S) Cyclohexylmandelic acid, L-2-methylphenylglycine, (S)-2-amino-6-hydroxy hexanoic 25 acid, and 4-methyl-L-leucine. Screening of nitrilases against target substrate D-Phenylglycine -110- CN H 2 N{H

NH

2 COH Phenylglycinonitrile D-phenyiglycine The hydrolysis of phenylglycinonitrile was performed. Some of these enzymes showed an ee higher than 20% and those were selected for preliminary 5 characterization. Based on the preliminary characterization experiments, a number of putative hits were identified on phenylglycinonitrile and a large amount of data was accumulated on these enzymes. The data revealed many common properties: the majority of the enzymes had pH optima for activity at pH 7 and, in general, the 10 enantioselectivity was enhanced at the lower pH values. The enzymes were found to be more active at higher temperature, particularly 38"C, although this temperature often resulted in lower enantioselectivities. The use of water-miscible co-solvents in the reaction was shown to be a practical option. The inclusion of 10-25% methanol (v/v) in the enzyme reactions did not substantially affect enzyme activity and in many cases, 15 led to an increase in enantioselectivity. The use of biphasic systems has also shown some promise, with the enzymes maintaining their level of activity with the addition of up to 70% (v/v) of hexane and, in some cases, toluene. The use of ethyl acetate in the biphasic systems, however, led to lower activity. Of the enzymes identified active on phenylglycinonitrile, the enantioselectivity 20 of several enzymes was shown to remain above the success criterion of 35% ee. The preliminary characterization data indicated that some of the enzymes exhibited high enantioselectivities for D-phenylglycine, with corresponding conversion to product of 40-60%. Further investigation suggested that the rate of activity of some of these enzymes was faster than the rate of racemization of the substrate. Reducing the 25 concentration of enzyme led to improved enantioselectivity; therefore, it appears that some benefit could be gained by control of the relative rates of the chemical racemization and the enzyme activity. -111- Screening of nitrilases against target substrate (R)-2-chloromandelic acid OH HO H CN > iCOOH C I C I 2-chloromandelonitrile (R)-2-chloromandelic acid Enzymes were identified which showed activity on 2-chloromandelonitrile. A high degree of overlap existed between the enzymes which were active on 2 5 chloromandelonitrile and phenylglycinonitrile. Many of these enzymes also formed a distinct sequence family. Higher temperatures and neutral pH appeared to lead to the highest activity for the active enzymes. For the majority of the nitrilases, the enantioselectivity also increased at higher temperatures, particularly 38"C. The enzymes retained their activity 10 in the presence of up to 25% methanol or 10% isopropanol; in many of these cases, the enantioselectivity was also enhanced. Activity in biphasic systems was largely comparable to aqueous conditions, particularly with hexane as the non-aqueous phase; varying tolerances to toluene were observed between the different nitrilases. 15 Table 4. Examples of enzymes for enantioselective hydrolysis of 2 chloromandelonitrile. SEQ ID Conversion To Time For ee (%) Turnover Specific Activity Conditions NOS: Product Highest (imol Product/mg Conversion (h) (g Product/kg Nitrilaselh) Nitrilase/h) pH 7, 38*C; 20% 385,386 22% 8 92 1014 88 MeOH pH 7, 38 0 C; 20% 169, 170 36% 1 92 29278 39 MeOH 185, 186 44% 1 79 14559 99 pIH 7, 38 0 C pH 7, 380C; 10% 47,48 43% 5 65 2475 20 MeOH pH 6, 38 0 C; 10% 197,198 >95% 1 87 45564 149 MeOH 187, 188 53% 1 82 14100 80 pH 7, 38"C;_10% -112- MeOH pH 7, 38*C; 10% 217,218 >95% 2 85 19773 185 MeOH pH 8, 38 0 C; 10% 55, 56 >95% 1 93 52951 329 MeO H pH 8, 38"C; [0% 167, 168 >95% 2 88 14895 100 MeOH pH 5, 38*C; 10% 15, 16 55% 1 81 25825 308 MeOH Table 4A. Summary of optimal conditions determined from characterization experiments for enantioselective hydrolysis of 2-chloromandelonitrile. SEQ ID Optimum pH Optimum Solvent Tolerance NOS: Temp "C 385, 386 7 38 25% MeOH 25% MeOH, 10% 169, 170 5 38 IPA 25% MeOH, 10% 185, 186 7 38 IPA 47,48 7 38 10% MeOH 25% MeOH, 10% 197, 198 6 55 IPA 10% MeOH; 40% 187, 188 7 38 IPA 25% MeOH, 10% IPA, 70% hexane, 217, 218 7 38 40% toluene 10% MeOH, IPA, 55,56 7 38 70% hexane [0% MeOH, IPA, 167, 168 9 38 70% hexane 15,16 7 38 25% MeOW, 10% IPA, 70% hexane, -113- 40% toluene Screening of nitrilases against target substrate (S)-phenyllactic acid: CN COOH OH HO H Phenylacetaldehyde (S)-Phenyllactic acid cyanohydrin 5 Many of the nitrilases tested were active on phenaylacetaldehyde cyanohydrin. Many of these enzymes were part of two related sequence families and were distinct from those enzymes that were active on phenylglycinonitrile and chloromandelonitrile. The p1H optima of the enzymes was generally above pH 7 (i. e. pH 8 or 9), with higher enantioselectivities being exhibited at these levels. Most of the enzymes showed 10 superior activity at higher temperature, particularly 38 0 C. The effect of temperature on the enantioselectivities of the enzymes varied; in most cases, this property was slightly lower at higher temperatures. While the enzymes were tolerant towards the addition of co-solvents, particularly 10% (v/v) methanol, no advantage in activity or enantio selectivity was gained by such additions. The use of a biphasic system was 15 again shown to be feasible. Table 5. Summary of optimal conditions determined from characterization experiments for enantioselective hydrolysis of phenylacetaldehyde cyanohydrin SEQ ID NOS: Optimum pH Optimum Temp Solvent Tolerance *C 103, 104 7 55 10% MeOH, IPA 10% MeOH, 70% 99, 100 8 38 hexane, toluene _ 10% MeOH, IPA, 70% toluene, 183, 184 9 38 hexane -114- SEQ ID NOS: Optimum pH Optimum Temp Solvent Tolerance "C 25% MeOH1, [PA, 70% hexane, 173, 174 5 38-55 toluene 10% MeOH, 25% IPA, 70% hexane, 213,214 7 38 toluene 10% MeOH, 70% 61,62 7 38 hexane, toluene 10% MeOH, [PA, 40% hexane, 205, 206 8 38-55 toluene 10% MeOH, 70% 207, 208 8 38 hexane 10% MeOH, 40% 309,210 8 38 hexane, toluene 10% MecOH, 40% 195, 196 8 38 hexane, toluene 10% MeOH, 40% 43,44 9 38 hexane 25% MeOH, IPA, 10% hexane, 161, 162 9 38 toluene 10% MeOH, IPA, 175, 176 6 38-55 40% hexane 10% MeOl-, IPA, 293,294 6 38 40% hexane Table 6. Summary of hit enzymes for enantioselective hydrolysis of phenylacetaldehyde cyanohydrin -115- SEQ ID Conversion To Time For ce (%) Turnover Specific Experimental NOS: Prod uct (%) Highest (g Product/kg Activity Conditions' Conversion (h) Nitriiase/h) (Imol Product/mg Nitrilase/h) 103, 104 77 3 94 2339' 14' pH 7, 38 0 C 99, 100 90 4 82 19787 119 pH 8, 38"C 183, 184 49 1 57 28153 169 pH 9, 38 0 C 173, 174 20 2 83 3200 27 pH 5, 38 "C 213,214 70 6 86 4372 26 pH 7, 38 C 61,62 56 5 80 5500 33 pH 7, 38C 205,206 90 6 73 4458 27 pH 8, 38 0 C 207, 208 78 4 81 9190 55 pH 8, 38 0 C 209,210 98 4 75 8343 50 pH 8, 38*C 195, 196 89 4 89 6874 41 pH 8, 38 0 C 43,44 40 5 84 3879 23 pH 9, 38

T

C 161, 162 >95 2 39 16430 98 pH 9, 38 0 C 175, 176 87 8 45 5065 30 pH 6, 38 0 C 293, 294 >95 8 65 7725 46 pH 6, 38 0 C Experiments were carried out using 25 mM substrate, at the pH and temperature conditions noted. Turnover in (g product/kg protein/h) and specific activity (pmol prbduct/mg protein/h) 5 Screening of nitrilases against target substrate L-2-methylphenylglycine

NH

2 \N H 2 CN ,CN 2-methylphenylglycinonitrile L-2-methylphenylglycine -116- Nitrilases have shown activity on this substrate and preferentially yielded the D 2-methylphenylglycine, rather than the required L-2-methylphenylglcyine. Table 7. Summary of activity and enantioselectivity for SEQ ID NOS:189, 190 on 2 5 methylphenylglycinonitrile SEQ ID Conversion To Time For Highest ee (%) for D- Turnover Specific Activity (pino 1 Experimental NOS: Product (%) Conversion (h) enatiomer (g Product/kg Product/mg Nitrilase/h) Conditions' Nitrilase/h) pH 7 38 0 C, 10% 189, 190 50% 4.5 h 45 2426 13 MeOH Screening of nitrilases against target substrate L-hydroxynorleucine ({S.2-amino- 6 7 hydroxy hexanoic acid)

NH

2

H

2 N Hj HO CN HO COOH 5-hydroxypentanal L-hydroxynorleucine aminonitrile 10 A number of nitrilases, which showed activity on 2-amino-6-hydroxy hexanenitrile, were isolated. All of these enzymes showed enantioselectivity towards the L-isomer of the product. As shown in Table 8, the enzymes all showed higher enantioselectivities at higher pH and appeared to more susceptible to the addition of solvents than the other 15 nitrilases tested. Although activity was detected in the presence of organic solvents, it was generally lower than that of the aqueous control. Once again, the activity of the enzymes was negatively affected by the acid product and aldehyde starting material. Table 8. Summary of optimal conditions determined from characterization 20 experiments for enantioselective hydrolysis of 2-amino-6-hydroxy hexanenitrile. SEQ ID Optimum Optimum Solvent NOS: pH Temp "C 217,218 9 38 10% MeOH -117- 55, 56 9 38 None 187, 188 9 38 10% MeOH 167, 168 9 38 None 221,222 9 38 A range of hydrolytic activities was observed among the confirmed hit enzymes for 2-amino-6-hydroxy hexanenitrile. 5 Table 9. Summary of hit enzymes for enantioselective hydrolysis of 2-amino- 6 hydroxy hexanenitrile. SEQ D Conversion To Time For ee (%) Turnover (g Specific Activity Experimental NOS: Product (%) Highest Product/kg (pmol Product/mg Conditions' Conversion (h) Nitrilase/h) Nitrilase/h)) 217,218 >95 1.5 52 33712 229 pH-19, 38-C 55,56 80 3 55 11221 76 pH 9, 38 0 C pH- 9, 3 8 0 C, 187, 188 50 6 60 1238 4 10% MeOH 167, 168 35 6 54 1684 IpH 9, 38C 21,222 80 3 S5 9901 148 pH9,38 0 C Screening of nitrilases against target substrate 4-methyl-D-leucine and 4-methyl-_L leucine CN COOH

NH

2

H

2 N H 3,3-dimethylbutanal 4-rethyl-L-Ieucine aminonitrile COOH

H

2 N H 10 4-methyl-D-leucine Hydrolysis of 2-amino-4,4-dinethyl pentanenitrile was performed by several of the nitrilases. Of these, some were shown to hydrolyse the nitrile to the L-isomer of the corresponding acid and were selected for further characterization. -118- Table 10. Summary of hit enzymes for enantioselective hydrolysis of 2-amino- 4 ,4 dinethyl pentanenitrile Turnover SEQ ID Conversion To Time For Specific Activity (mol Conditions' NOS: Product (%) Highest ee (%) (g Product/kg Product/mg Nitrilase/h) Conversion (h) Nitrilase/h) 103, 104 30 0.5 91 12489 36 pH 7, room temp 59, 60 30 0.5 >99 33806 233 pH 7, room temp 221,222 32 7.5 79 1098 7 pH6,38 0 C 5 Table 11. Summary of optimal conditions determined from characterization experiments for enantioselective hydrolysis of 2-amino-4,4-dimethyl pentanenitrile SEQ D optimum Solvent Tolerance NOTS Optimum pH Temp 0 103, 104 7 23 25% MeOH, 10% IPA 59, 60 8 23 25% McOH 221,222 6 38 25% MeOH, 10% 1PA Screening of nitrilases against target substrate (S)-cyclohexylmandelic acid NC OH HO 02 Cyclohexylmandelonitrile (S)-cyclohexylmandelic acid 10 Screening of nitrilases against target substrate Mandelonitrile CN HOH OH COOH Mandelonitrile (R)-mandelic acid -119- The nitrilase collection was also screened on mandelonitrile. The nitrilases actively hydrolyzed both phenylglycinonitrile and chloromandelonitrile. 5 Enzymatic assay for determination of enantioselectivity In the design of a spectroscopic system for determination of the chiral a hydroxy acids and a-amino acids, an enzyme based assay which permits the detection of product formation and enantioselectivity was developed and used. Spectroscopic systems for the detection of a-hydroxy- and for a-arnino- acids 10 based on lactate dehydrogenase (L-LDH & D-LDH) and on amino acid oxidase (L-AA Oxid & D-AA Oxid) are described in Figures 6 and 7. These enzymes were chosen because they are reported to have reasonably broad substrate ranges while still retaining near absolute enantiospecificity. The overall feasibility of this system has been established (Table 12). Neither 15 the parent hydroxynitrile nor the aminonitrile is metabolized by the secondary or detection enzyme and thus starting material does not interfere. Cell lysate which is not heat treated results in background activity for the LDH system; however, heat inactivation eliminates the background activity. Cell lysate does not appear to interfere in the AA Oxidase assay. One concern is the inactivation of the AA Oxidase, which 20 utilizes a FMN co-factor, by residual cyanide. However, the control studies indicated that at 2 mM PGN (which could release up to 2 rnM HCN) inactivation is not a problem. This assay is suitable for automation of 384 well (or possibly greater density) microtiter plates. Table 12: Summary of Identification of Secondary Enzyme to Chiral Detection of 25 Acid Product. ENZYME WITH SUITABLE SUBSTRATE ACTIVITY FOUND FROM COMMERCIAL SOURCE .Hydroxy Acid Products: L-lactic acid I YES -120- D-lactic acid YES L-phenyl lactic acid YES D-phenyl lactic acid YES S-cyclohexylmandelic acid' Not applicable R-cyclohexylmandelic acid Not applicable Amino Acid Products: 4-methyl-L-leucine YES 4-inethyl-L/D-leucine YES (D-unknown) D-phenylalanine YES R-phenylglycine YES L-hom oph enyllactic acid YES D-honophenyllactic acid YES L-homophenylalanine YES D-homophenylalanine YES (S)-2-amino-6-hydroxy YES hexanoic acid (R/S)-2-amino-6-hydroxy YES (D-unknown) hexanoic acid L-methylphenylglycine' 1. Not Applicable D-methylphenylglycinel Not Applicable : The assay will not be applicable to cyclohexylmandelic acid and 2-methylphenylglycine, as tertiary alcohols are not amenable to this particular oxidation -12 1-- Example 5 Standard assay conditions The following solutions were prepared: 5 - Substrate stock solution: 50 mM of the aminonitrile substrate in 0.1 M phosphate buffer (pH 7) or 50 mM of the cyanohydrin substrate in 0.1 M Na Acetate buffer (pH 5) - Enzyme stock solution: 3.33 ml of 0.1 M phosphate buffer (pH 7) to each vial of 20 mg of lyophilized cell lysate (final concentration 6 mg protein/ml) 10 Procedure: - Add 100 pl of the 50 mM substrate solution to the appropriate number of wells of a 96-well plate - Add 80 1 of buffer to each well 15 - Add 20 p.1 of enzyme solution to each well - Blank controls were set up by substitution of 20 p of buffer for the enzyme solution - Negative controls consisting of 20 [tl of enzyme solution in 180 p.1 of buffer were also included in many of the experiments. Once it had been established that the 20 cell lysate did not interfere with the detection of the products, these controls were not included. Sampling of reactions: - The reactions were sampled by removing an aliquot from each well (15-50 pLl) 25 and diluting the samples as follows: - Samples for non-chiral HPLC analysis: - Phenylglycine, 2-chloromandelic acid and phenyllactic acid: initially, the samples were diluted 2-fold with water and a further 2-fold with methanol or acetonitrile (final dilution: 4-fold). It was found that an 8-fold dilution of these 30 samples led to improved chromatographic separation -122- - (S)-2-amino-6-hydroxy hexanoic acid, 4-methylleucine, t-leucine, 2 methylphenylglycine and cyclohexylmandelic acid: samples were diluted 1:1 with methanol or acetonitrile. The choice of solvent was based on the solvent used in the HPLC analysis method. 5 - Samples for chiral HPLC analysis: - Phenylglycine, 2-chloromandelic acid and phenyllactic acid: as described above for the non-chiral analyses, the samples for chiral analyses were initially diluted 2-fold and in the later stages of the project, at 4-fold. - (S)-2-amino-6-hydroxy hexanoic acid, 4-rnethylleucine, t-leucine, 2 10 methylphenylglycine: samples were diluted 1:1 with methanol or acetonitrile - For each experiment, a standard curve of the product was included in the HPLC run. The curve was plotted on an X-Y axis and the concentration of product in the samples calculated from the slope of these curves. - For the preliminary characterization experiments, samples were taken such 15 that the activity of the enzymes was in the linear phase; this was performed so that differences in the effects of the parameters on the rate of reaction, rather than the complete conversion, could be determined. The sampling times are denoted in the tables included in the text. - The samples were analyzed by HPLC, using the methods outlined in Table 20 20 and 21. Example 6 Determination of the Effect of pH on enzyme activity and enantioselectivity The effect of pH on the enzyme activity and enantioselectivity was studied by 25 performance of the standard assay in a range of different buffers: 0.1 M Citrate Phosphate pH 5 0.1 M Citrate Phosphate pH 6 0.1 M Sodium Phosphate pH 7 0.1 M Tris-HCl pH 8 30 M Tris-HCl pH 9 -123- The samples were analyzed by non-chiral and chiral HPLC methods and examples of the results are presented in Tables 5, 8 and 11 herein. 5 Example 7 Determination of the Effect of temperature on enzyme activity and enantioselectivity The effect of temperature on the activity and enantio selectivity was investigated by performing the standard assay at room temperature, 38"C and 55 0 C. 10 The samples were analyzed by non-chiral and chiral HPLC methods and examples of the results are given in Tables 5, 8 and II herein. Example 8 Determination of the Effect of solvents on enzyme activity and enantioselectivity 15 The enzyme reactions were performed in the presence of cosolvents and as biphasic systems, in order to investigate the effect of water-miscible and water immiscible solvents on the enzymes. In the presence of cosolvents, the reactions were run under standard conditions, with substitution of the buffer with methanol or isopropanol. The final concentrations of solvent in the reactions was 0, 10, 25 and 20 40% (v/v). The biphasic reactions were also carried out under standard conditions, with a layer of water-immiscible organic solvent forming the nonaqueous phase. The solvent was added at the following levels: 0%, 10%, 40% and 70% (v/v) of the aqueous phase. The samples from these reactions were evaporated by centrifugation under vacuum and 25 redissolved in a 50:50 mixture of methanol or acetonitrile and water. The samples were analyzed by non-chiral and chiral HPLC methods. -124- Example 9 Determination of the Effect of process components on enzyme activity and enantioselectivity Activity S The effect of the process components on the activity of the enzymes was established by addition of the individual components to the enzymatic reaction. These components included the starting materials for the nitrile synthesis, aldehyde, cyanide and ammonium, as well as triethylamine, which is added in catalytic amounts to the nitrile synthesis reaction. The concentrations of the reactants were selected with 10 possible process conditions in mind and were adapted to the levels of reactants used in the enzyme assays. In some cases, the solubility of the aldehydes and products was relatively low; in these cases, the highest level of solubility was added to the reactions as the highest level and 10% of this level as the lower value. The enzymatic reactions were carried out under standard conditions, with 15 addition of one or more of the following components: benzaldehyde, phenylglycine, phenylacetaldehyde, phenyllactic acid, 2-chlorobenzaldehyde, 2-chloromandelic acid, 5 -hydroxypentanal, (S)-2-amino-6-hydroxy hexanoic acid, 4-methylleucine, KCN, Triethylarnine, NI 4 Cl. Control'reactions were performed under standard conditions, with no additive. The samples were analyzed by non-chiral HPLC. 20 Stability The stability of the enzymes to process conditions was monitored by incubation of the enzymes in the presence of the individual reaction components for predetermined time periods, prior to assay of the enzyme activity under standard 25 conditions. In these experiments, the enzymes were incubated at a concentration of 1.2 mg protein/ml in the presence of each of the following reaction components: methanol, benzaldehyde, phenylglycine, phenylacetaldehyde, phenyllactic acid, 2 chlorobenzaldehyde, 2-chloromandelic acid, 5-hydroxypentanal, (S)-2-amino-6 hydroxy hexanoic acid, KCN, NH 4 Cl. -125- Assay conditions: At 0, 2, 6 and 24 hours of incubation in the particular additive, 50 pl of the enzyme solution was removed, 50 pl of a 50 mM substrate stock solution added and 5 the enzyme activity assayed under standard conditions. After substrate addition, the reactions were sampled at the following times: Phenylglycinonitrile: 10 mins; Phenylacetaldehyde cyanohydrin: 1 hour; 2-chloromandelonitrile: 2 hours. Control reactions were performed by incubation of the enzyme in buffer only. The samples were analyzed using non-chiral HPLC methods. 10 Example 10 Confirmation of putative hit enzymes Following the preliminary characterization experiments, the enzymes which were identified as putative hits were assayed under the optimal conditions determined, in order to evaluate their performance, especially in terms of enantioselectivity, when 15 higher conversions were attained. The enzymes were assayed with 25 mM substrate, under the conditions of pH and temperature noted in the tables included in the text. A standard concentration of 0.6 mg/mI protein was used for each of the enzymes, unless otherwise stated. 20 Example 11 Selected examples of chromatograms from enzyme reactions In this section, representative examples of chromatograms for each substrate and product combination will be shown, together with a discussion of some of the challenges encountered with the methods and how they were addressed. 25 D-Phenylglycine Non-chiral analysis showing the substrate peak eluting at 2.6 min and 3.2 min. See Figures 8A-8E. The two peaks were present in all samples containing higher -126concentrations of the nitrile; the second peak is thought to be a product associated with the nitrile; it decreased with time and was no longer present once complete conversion to the product had taken place. The chromatogram shown in Figure SA is a blank control, contaIning only nitrile and buffer; the samples were all diluted with 5 water and solvent as explained in section 1 above. This was repeated for all samples discussed below. An enzymatic reaction sample is shown in the chromatogram in Figure 8B , with the product eluting at 0.4 min. Of note in these chromatograms is the small solvent front peak eluting at 0.3 min. Further representation of this peak is given in the chromato gram shown in Figure 10 8C, in which a negative control consisting of cell lysate in buffer, was run. A very small peak coeluted with the product at 0.4 min. In the initial phase of the project, this peak was regarded as problematic, although the appropriate controls were run with each experiment for in order to maintain accuracy. In these experiments, the peak area resulting from the cell lysate, although it was relatively small, was subtracted from the 15 peak areas of the product in the enzymatic reactions. Improvement of this analysis was obtained by further dilution of the samples and the use of lower injection volumes on the HPLC. Following the implementation of these improvements, interference by this peak was shown to be minimal, as shown in the chromatogram illustrated in Fig. 6C. The chiral analysis of phenylglycine is shown in chromatogram in Fig. 6D with 20 the L-enantiomer eluting at 6 Min and the D-enantiomer at 11 rmin. Good resolution between the two isomers was obtained. However, the column used was very sensitive and the characteristics of the column appeared to change over time, resulting in changes in the elution times of the acids. While this was easily detected by the use of the proper controls and standards, a greater problem existed in the coelution of the 25 nitrile peak with the D-enantiomer (chromatogram shown in Fig. 6E). The cause of this coelution was unclear; however, it was easily detected by the use of appropriate standards; in addition, the UV spectrum of the acid was very distinctive, making the use of this tool effective in detecting the coelution. The problem was also easily resolved by adjusting the methanol content in the mobile phase. 30 -127- (R)-2-chloromandelic acid The HPLC analysis of chloromandelic acid and chloromandelonitrile offered many of the challenges associated with the analysis of the phenylglycine samples. From the chromatogram shown in Fig. 7A, which contains only chloromandelonitrile in 5 buffer, it is evident that a peak eluted at the same time as the product in the chromatogram shown in Fig. 73, which represents a chloromandelic acid standard. The contribution of the cell lysate to this peak was found to be small; it would appear that the greatest contribution to this peak was from the chloromandelonitrile, either from a breakdown product or a contaminant in the nitrile preparation. The peak area 10 remained constant throughout each experiment and, using the appropriate controls, it was found that subtraction of the peak area from that of the product yielded sufficient accuracy. Many attempts were made to change the HPLC conditions so that the product peak eluted at a later time; however, these attempts were not successful. Chromatogram shown in Fig. 7C illustrates the appearance of product and the 15 reduction of the substrate peaks. The chiral analysis of chloromandelic acid was almost problem-free. The elution of a small peak at the same time as the (S)-enantiomer presented some concem (the peak at 2.4 min in chromatogram shown in Fig. 7D). However, once it was established that this peak was present in all the samples at the same level, including the 20 blank control, and that it had a different UV spectrum to that of the chloromandelic acid peak, it was not regarded as a problem. Consequently, it was subtracted from the peak eluting at 2.4 min in each sample. The (R)-enantiomer eluted at 3 minutes. (S)-phenvllactic acid 25 The analysis of phenyllactic acid was initially plagued with the same problems discussed for phenylglycine and 2-chloromandelic acid. However, in this case, adjustment of the solvent concentration in the nonchiral HPLC method led to a shift in the retention time of the acid, so that it no longer coeluted with the cell lysate peak. Following this, no problems were encountered with either the nonchiral or chiral 30 methods. Representative nonchiral chromatograms of the product (1.9 min) and cyanohydrin substrate (3.7 min) are shown in Fig. 8A, while the chiral analysis of the -128acid is shown in Fig. 8B, with the L-enantiomer eluting at 2 min and the opposite enantiomer at 6 mi. L-2-methylphenylglycine 5 The analysis of methylphenylglycine was unproblematic, although the nonchiral method did not provide baseline separation between a cell lysate peak and the product peak, as shown in the chromatogram illustrated in Fig. 9A. The amino acid standard for this method was provided in the final stages of the project, thus minimizing the time for method development. In the chromatogram shown in Fig. 9A the amino acid elutes 10 at 0.7 min and the aminonitrile at 5.0 min. Sufficient separation between the two initial peaks was obtained to allow the calculation of approximate conversion to product. The chiral analysis of this compound provided good separation between the two enantiomers, as shown in the chromatogran illustrated in Fig. 9B. The L enantiomer elutes at 5 min and the D-enantiomer at 8 min. 15 L-tert-leucine For the nonchiral analysis of t-leucine, the cell lysate presented the most serious problem amongst the group of products for this project. This was compounded by the low spectroscopic properties of the amino acid, leading to difficulty in differentiating 20 the product peak from the cell lysate. Good separation of the individual product enantiomers was obtained by chiral analysis as shown in Fig. 10A. During the primary screen, a small peak eluted at the same time as the L-amino acid standard in certain samples (see Fig. 10B) and was thought to be the amino acid. However, further development of the method and the use of the appropriate controls established that this 25 peak was actually a cell lysate peak. The aminonitrile eluted between the two t-leucine peaks, as shown in Fig. 10C; this chromatogram also shows the cell lysate peak at 4.8 min. The UV spectrum of the nitrile was distinct from that of the amino acid, making it easier to differentiate from the acid peaks. 30 -129- L-hydroxynorleucine ((S)-2-amino-6-hydroxy hexanoic acid) The chiral analysis of(S)-2-amino-6-hydroxy hexanoic acid was consistent and reliable. By contrast, the nonchiral method presented many problems, primarily as a result of non-separation between the nitrile and the acid peaks. Towards the latter half 5 of the project, a method was developed and used successfully for the confirmation of activities. Prior to this, most of the analysis was performed using the chiral method; standard curves of the products were run in order to quantify the reactions. A representative chromatogram of(S)-2-amino-6-hydroxy hexanoic acid is shown in Figure llA, with (S)-2-amino-6-hydroxy hexanoic acid eluting at 6 Min. The 10 aminonitrile was not detected by this method. Separation of the individual 2-amino-6-hydroxy hexanoic acid enantiomers is shown in Fig. 11 B. The L-enantiomer elutes first, at 2 min, followed by the D enantiomer at 3 rmin. In Fig. 1 C, an enzymatic sample is represented; the only area of slight concern is the negative peak preceding the elution of the L-enantiomer. 15 However, it did not appear to interfere significantly with the elution of this enantiomer; method development did not eliminate the negative peak. 4-methyl-D-leucine and 4-methyl-L-leucine For the detection of 4-methylleucine, the chiral HPLC method again proved 20 more reliable. The combination of low activities, together with the low sensitivity of the method to the compound led to difficulties in detection using nonchiral HPLC. A 2.5 mM standard of the amino acid is shown in Fig. 12A, with a peak height of approximately 40 mAU; this was substantially lower than those detected for the aromatic compounds. Chromatogram in Fig. 12B shows an enzymatic sample, in 25 which conversion was detected using the chiral HPLC method; while it is not clear, it would appear that the 4-methylleucine peak elutes at 2.7 min and is extremely low in both peak height and area. This peak did not appear in samples which were negative by chiral HPLC analysis. The chiral analysis of 4-methyl-L-leucine and 4-methyl-D-leucine did not 30 present any problems. The L-enantiomer eluted at 5 min and the D-enantiomer at 7 min, although some peak shift did occur, as a result of the sensitivity to the column, -130described in section (i) for phenylglycine. In chromatograms shown in Figs. 14C-14D, the separation of these amino acids is shown; the first sample represents an enzyme which produced both enantiomers and in the second sample, the enzyme preferentially hydrolyzed the L-enantiomer, with a small amount D-amino acid forming. 5 (S)-cyclohexvlmandelic acid Chromatograms of the standards for cyclohexylmandelic acid (Fig. 13A) and the corresponding nitrile (Fig. 13B) are shown. The acid eluted at 1.3 min, while the cyanohydrin was observed at 2.5 min. The peak eluting at 2.1 min is thought to be the 10 cyclohexylphenylketone, as shown by the elution of a ketone standard at this point. Example 12 An Enzyme Library Approach to Biocatalysis: Development of a Nitrilase Platform for Enantioselective Production of Carboxylic Acid Derivatives Biocatalytic processes can offer unique advantages in transformations that are 15 challenging to accomplish through conventional chemical methods (Wong, C.-H.; Whitesides, G.M. Enzymes in Synthetic Organic Chemistry; Pergamon, New York, 1994; Drauz, K.; Waldmann, H., Roberts, S.M. Eds. Enzyme Catalysis in Organic Synthesis; VCH: Weinheim, Germany, 2nd ed., 2002). Nitrilases (EC 3.5.5.1) promote the mild hydrolytic conversion of organonitriles directly to the corresponding 20 carboxylic acids (Kobayashi, M.; Shimizu, S. FEMS MicrobioL Lett. 1994, 120, 217; Bunch, A.W. In Biotechnology; Rehm, H.-J.; Reed, G.; Puhler, A.; Stadler, P., Eds.; Wiley-VCH: Weinheim, Germany, Vol. 8a, Chapter 6, pp 277-324; Wieser, M.; Nagasawa, T. In Stereoselective Biocatalysis; Patel, R.N., Ed.; Marcel Dekker: New York, 2000, Chapter 17, pp 461-486.) Fewer than fifteen microbially-derived 25 nitrilases have been characterized and reported to date. (Harper, D.B. Int. J. Biochem. 1985, 17, 677; Levy-Schil, S.; Soubrier, F.; Crutz-Le Coq, A.M.; Faucher, D.; Crouzet, J.; Petre, D. Gene 1995, 161, 15; Yu, F. 1999, US Patent 5872000; Ress Loschke, M.; Friedrich, T.; Hauer, B.; Mattes, R.; Engels, D. PCT Appl. WO 00/23577, April 2000.). Several nitrilases previously have been explored for the 30 preparation of single-enantiomer carboxylic acids, although little progress has been -131made in the development of nitrilases as viable synthetic tools. This application describes the discovery of a large and diverse set of nitrilases and herein demonstrate the utility of this nitrilase library for identifying enzymes that catalyze efficient enantioselective production of valuable hydroxy carboxylic acid derivatives. 5 In an effort to access the most diversified range of enzymes that can be found in Nature, we create large genornic libraries by extracting DNA directly from environmental samples that have been collected from varying global habitats. (For a description of these methods, see: Short, J.M. Nature Biotech. 1997, 15, 1322; Handelsman, J.; Rondon, M.J.; Brady, S.F.; Clardy, J.; Goodman, R.M. Chem. Biol. 10 1998, 5, R245; Henne, A.; Daniel, R.; Schmitz, R.A.; Gottschalk, G. Apple. Environ. MicrobioL 1999, 65, 3901.). We have established a variety of methods for identifying novel activities through screening mixed populations of uncultured DNA. (Robertson, D.E.; Mathur, E.J.; Swanson, R.V.; Marrs, B.L.; Short, J.M. SIM News 1996, 46, 3; Short, J.M. US Patent 5,958,672, 1999; Short J.M. US Patent 6,030,779, 2000.) 15 Through this approach, nearly 200 new nitrilases have been discovered and characterized. (For a concise description of the studies, see Materials and Methods section below.) All nitrilases were defined as unique at the sequence level and were shown to possess the conserved catalytic triad Glu-Lys-Cys which is characteristic for this enzyme class. (Pace, H.; Brenner, C. Genome Biology 2001, 2, 0001.1-0001.9.) 20 Each nitrilase in our library was overexpressed and stored as a lyophilized cell lysate in order to facilitate rapid evaluation of the library for particular biocatalytic functions. The initial investigations focused upon the efficacy of nitrilases for production of a-hydroxy acids 2 formed through hydrolysis of cyanohydrins 1. Cyanohydrins are well-documented to racemize readily under basic conditions through reversible loss of 25 HCN. (Inagaki, M.; Hiratake, J.; Nishioka, T.; Oda, J.; J Org. Chem 1992, 57, 5643, (b) van Eikeren, P. US Patent 5,241,087, 1993.) Thus, a dynamic kinetic resolution process is possible whereby an enzyme selectively hydrolyzes only one enantiomer of 1, affording 2 in 100% theoretical yield and with high levels of enantiomeric purity. One important application of this type involves commercial production of (R) 30 mandelic acid from mandelonitrile. (Ress-Loschke, M.; Friedrich, T.; Hauer, B.; -132- Mattes, R..; Engels, D. PCT Appl. WO 00/23577, April 2000; Yamamoto, K.; Oishi, K.; Fujimatsu, 1.; Komatsu, K. AppL. Environ. MicrobioL 1991, 57, 3028; Endo, T.; Tamura, K. US Patent 5,296,373, March 1994.) Mandelic acid and derivatives find broad use as intermediates and resolving agents for production of many pharmaceutical 5 and agricultural products. (Coppola, G.M.; Schuster, H.F. Chiral a-Hydroxy Acids in Enantioselective Synthesis; Wiley-VCH: Weinheim, Germany: 1997.) However, the few known nitrilases derived from cultured organisms have not been found usefl for efficient and selective hydrolysis of analogous substrates. O OH OH OH + HCN -+ Nitrilase R H R CN R CN R C 2 H (S)-1 (R)-1 (S)-2 10 The nitrilase library was screened for activity and enantioselectivity in the hydrolysis of mandelonitrile (3a, Ar = phenyl) to mandelic acid. Preliminary results 15 revealed that 27 enzymes afforded mandelic acid in >90% ee. One enzyme, SEQ ID NOS:385, 386, was studied in greater detail and was found to be very active for hydrolysis of mandelonitrile. Under standard conditions using 25 mM 3a and 0.12 mg/mL enzyme in 10% MeOH (v/v) 0.1 M phosphate buffer at 37oC and pH 8, (R) mandelic acid was formed quantitatively within 10 min and with 98% ee. To confirm 20 synthetic utility, the reaction was performed using 1.0 g 3a (50 mM) and 9 mg nitrilase (0.06 ng/mL nitrilase I); after 3 h (R)-mandelic acid was isolated in high yield (0.93 g, 86%) and again with 98% ee. 25 -133- 0 H SEQ ID NOS: 0 H 385, 386 Ar C N 38 Ar CO 2 H 3 (R)-4 Table 13. SEQaID NOS:385, 386-catalyzed production of mandelic acid derivatives and analogues 4 Entry Ar in 4 Spec. Act.' TOF' % eed 1 C 6 Hs 50 28 98 2 2-C--C 6

H

5 3 1.7 97 3 2-Br-CHs 10 5.6 96 4 2-Me-C 6 Hs 9 5.1 95 5 3-Cl-C 6 Hs 6 3.4 98 6 3-Br-C 6 Hs 3 1.7 99 7 4-F-C6H 5 21 11.8 99 8 1-naphthyl 5 2.8 95 9 2-naphthyl 5 2.8 98 10 3-pyridyl 33 18.6 97 11 3-thienyl 30 16.8 95 (a) Reactions were conducted under standard conditions (see text). Reaction time for 5 complete conversion to 4 was 1-3 h. Entries 8-9 were conducted at pH 9 and 5 mM substrate concentration. (b) Specific activities were measured at 5 min transformation timepoints and are expressed as pmol mg-' min-. (c) TOF = turnover frequency, mol product/mol catalyst/sec. (d) Enantioselectivites were determined by chiral HPLC analysis. Hydroxy acids were isolated and absolute configurations were determined to 10 be (R) in all cases. The substrate scope of SEQ ID NOS:385, 386 was next explored. As shown in Table 13, a broad range of mandelic acid derivatives as well as aromatic and heteroaromatic analogues (4) may be prepared through this method. SEQ ID -134- NOS:385, 386 tolerates aromatic ring substituents in the ortho-, meta-, and para positions of mandelonitrile derivatives and products of type 4 were produced with high enantioselectivities. Other larger aromatic groups such as 1-naphthyl and 2-naphthyl also are accommodated within the active site, again affording the acids 4 with high 5 selectivity (Table 13, entries 8-9). Finally, 3-pyridyl and 3-thienyl analogues of mandelic acid were prepared readily using this process (Table 13, entries 10-11). This is the first reported demonstration of a nitrilase that affords a range of mandelic acid derivatives and heteroaromatic analogues of type 4. High activity on the more sterically encumbered ortho-substituted and 1 -naphthyl derivatives is particularly 10 noteworthy. We next examined the preparation of aryllactic acid derivatives 6 through hydrolysis of the corresponding cyanohydrins 5. Phenyllactic acid and derivatives serve as versatile building blocks for the preparation of numerous biologically active compounds. (Coppola, G.M.; Schuster, H.F. Chiral a-Hydroxy Acids in 15 Enantioselective Synthesis; Wiley-VCH: Weinheim, Germany: 1997.) Upon screening our nitrilase library against the parent cyanohydrin 5a (Ar = phenyl), we found several enzymes that provided 6a with high enantiomeric excess. One enzyme, SEQ ID NOS: 103, 104, was further characterized. After optimization, SEQ ID NOS:103, 104, was shown to provide (S)-phenyllactic acid (6a) with complete conversion (50 mM) and 20 very high enantioselectivity (98% ee) over 6 h. The highest enantio selectivity O H SEQIDNOS: O H Ar C N 103, 104 3Ar1. C H 5 (S)-6 previously reported for biocatalytic conversion of 5 to 6 was 75% ee achieved through a whole cell transformation using a Pseudomonas strain. (Hashimoto, Y.; Kobayashi, E.; Endo, T.; Nishiyama, M.; Horinouchi, S. Biosci. Biotech. Biochem. 1996, 60, 1279.) -135- Table 14. Nitrilase II-catalyzed production of aryllactic acid derivatives and analogues 6" Entry Ar in 6 Spec. Act, TOF' % eed 1 C61H 5 25 16 99 2 2-Me-C6H 5 160 100 95 3 2-Br-Cd-Hs 121 76 95 4 2-F-C6H 5 155 97 91 5 3-Me-CH5 21 13 95 6 3-F-Cd-s 22 14 99 7 1-naphthyl 64 40 96 8 2-pyridyl 10.5 6.6 99 9 3-pyridyl 11.6 7.2 97 10 2-thienyl 3.4 2.1 96 11 3-thienyl 2.3 1.4 97 (a) Reaction conditions as in Table 13, except 0.016 mg/mL nitrilase was used. Full conversion to 6 was observed within 6 h. (b)-(d) See Table 13. The absolute 5 configuration was determined to be (S) for phenyllactic acid and entries 2-11 were assigned (S) based upon identical chiral HPLC peak elution order. Ortho and meta substituents appear to be tolerated well by nitrilase II, with ortho substituted derivatives surprisingly being converted with higher rates relative to -136the parent substrate Sa. Novel heteroaromatic derivatives, such as 2-pyridyl-, 3 pyridyl, 2-thienyl- and 3-thienyllactic acids, were prepared with high conversions and enantioselectivities (entries 8-11). Unexpectedly, para substituents greatly lowered the rates of these reactions, with full conversion taking over two weeks under these 5 conditions. The final transformation that we examined was desymmetrization of the readily available prochiral substrate 3-hydroxyglutarylnitrile (7) (Johnson, F.; Panella, J.P.; Carlson, A.A. J Org. Chem. 1962, 27, 2241) to afford hydroxy acid (R)-8 which, once esterified to (R)-9, is an intermediate used in the manufacture of the cholesterol 10 lowering drug LIPITORTM. Previously reported attempts to use enzymes for this process were unsuccessful and 8 was produced with low selectivity (highest: 22% ee) and the undesired (S)-configuration. (Crosby, J.A.; Parratt, J.S.; Turner, N.J. Tetrahedron: Asymmetry 1992, 3, 1547; Beard, T.; Cohen, M.A.; Parratt, J.S.; Turner, N.J. Tetrahedron: Asymmetry 1993, 4, 1085; Kakeya, H.; Sakai, N.; Sano, A.; 15 Yokoyama, M.; Sugai, T.; Ohta, H. Chem. Lett. 1991, 1823.) OH ntrilase OH OH NC CNn-i- NC CO2H EtOH N CO 2 Et

[H]

t 7 (R)-8 (R)-9 The nitrilase library was screened and unique enzymes were discovered and isolated that provided the required product (R)-8 with high conversion (>95%) and 20 >90% ee. Using one of the (R)-specific nitrilases, this process was operated on a 1.0 g scale (240 mM 7, 30 mg enzyme, 22 0 C, pH 7) and after 22 h, (R)-8 was isolated in 98% yield and 95% ee. Interestingly, the same screening program also identified nitrilases that afford the opposite enantiomer (S)-8 with 90-98% ee. Thus, the extensive screen of biodiversity has uncovered enzymes that provide ready access to 25 either enantiomer of the intermediate 8 with high enantioselectivities. Our discovery of the first enzymes that furnish (R)-8 underscores the advantage of having access to a large and diverse library of nitrilases. -137- SUMMARY for Nitrilases Activity on HydroxyGlutarylnitrile (Primary Data) SEQ ID NO: %ee % Conversion LIPITOR

T

M 107, 108 100 79 S 109,110 100 79 S 111,112 91 32 S 127, 128 92 106 S 129, 130 100 22 S 133, 134 86 14 S 113, 114 100 108 S 145, 146 100 100 S 101, 102 100 61 S 179, 180 100 75 S 201,202 100 100 S 159, 160 100 71 s 177, 178 100 11 S 181, 182 100 58 S 183, 184 100 19 S 185,186 100 78 S 191, 192 100 67 S 57, 58 100 73 S 197, 198 100 64 s 41,42 100 16 R 59, 60 100 100 S 207,208 100 111 R -138- 209,210 92 100 R 73,74 100 3 R 153, 154 35 39 171, 172 27 33 195, 196 100 87 R 43,44 100 111 R 67,68 100 35 S 359, 360 100 87 S By plumbing our environmental genon-ic libraries created from uncultured DNA, we have discovered a large array of novel nitrilases. This study has revealed specific nitrilases that furnish mandelic and aryllactic acid derivatives, as well as either 5 enantiomer of 4-cyano-3-hydroxybutyric acid in high yield and enantiomeric excess. Procedures and Analytical Data: Hydroxyglutarylnitrile was purchased from TCI America and used as received. Amino acids used for the preparation of aryl lactic acid standards were purchased from PepTech (Cambridge, MA). (R)-3-hydroxy-4-cyanobutyric acid was obtained from 10 Gateway Chemical Technology (St. Louis, MO). Both (R)- and (S)- mandelic acid and (R)- and (S)- phenyl lactic acid standards were purchased from Sigma Aldrich. All other reagents were purchased from Sigma Aldrich and utilized without further purification. Silica Gel, 70-230 mesh, 60 A, purchased from Aldrich, was used for chromatographic purifications. All 'H NMRs and 3 C NMRs were run on Bruker 15 model AM-500 machines, set at room temperature, 500 MHz and 125MHz respectively for 'H and ' 3 C. Mass analyses and unit mass resolution was achieved by flow injection analysis (FIA) using a Perkin-Elmer Sciex API-4000 TURBOIONTM Spray LC/MS/MS system. The LC flow was provided by Schimadzu LC-1OAdvp pumps, with 0.05% acetic acid and MeOH. Injections were accomplished via a Valco 20 injector valve. The HPLC analysis was done on an Agilent 1100 HPLC with Astec's Chirobiotic R column (100 x 4.6 mm, cat no. 13022 or 150 x 4.

6 mmn, cat no. 13023) -139or Daicel's Chiralcel OD column (50 x 4.6 mm, cat no. 14022) and the DAD detector set at 210, 220, 230, and 250 urn. For specific rotations, a Perkin Elmer Model 341 Polarimeter was used, set at 589 nm, Na lamp, at room temperature, with a 100 rm path length cell. Concentrations for specific rotation are reported in grams per 100 mL 5 of solvent. Microbiology techniques were executed in accordance to published protocols. (Sambrook, J. Fritsch, EF, Maniatis, T. (1989) Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual (2nd ed.), Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Plainview NY.) Glycolic acid products were isolated and absolute configurations were determined to be (R) in all cases by comparison with literature optical rotation data on 10 configurationally defined compounds except for (-)-3-pyridylglycolic acid, which to our knowledge is not known as a single enantiomer. (For mandelic, 2-chloromandelic, 2-methyl mandelic, 3-chloromandelic, 3-bromomandelic and 4-fluoromandelic acid see Hoover, J.R. E.; Dunn, G. L.; Jakas, D.R.; Lam, L.L.; Taggart, J. J.; Guarini, J.R.; Phillips, L. J. Med. Chem. 1974, 17(1), 34-41; For 2-bromo mandelic acid see Coliet, 15 A.; Jacques, J.; Bull. Soc. Chem. Fr. 1973, 12, 3330-333 1; For 1- and 2 napthylglycolic acid see Takahashi, I; Y. Aoyagi, I. Nakamura, Kitagawa, A., Matsumoto, K., Kitajirma, H. Isa, K. Odashima, K. Koga, K. Heterocycles 1999, 51(6), 1371-88; For 3-thienylglycolic acid Gronowitz, S. Ark. Kemi, 1957, 11, 519 525.) 20 For the aryl lactic acid products, absolute configuration was established to be (S) for phenyl lactic acid by comparison with literature optical rotation and for all other phenyl lactic acid products, absolute configurations were predicted based upon elution order using chiral HPLC. Absolute configuration for 3-hydroxy-4-cyano-butanoic acid was established by derivatization to (R)-(-)-Methyl (3-0-[benzoyl]-4-cyano)-butanoate 25 and comparison to literature optical rotation data on configurationally defined compound. (3. Beard, T. Cohen, M. A. Parratt, J.S. Turner, N. J. Tetrahedron:Asymm. 4(6), 1993, 1085-1104.) Nitrilase Discovery and Characterization Methods: I. Nitrilase Selection. -140- An Escherichia coli screening host strain, SEL700, was optimized for nitrilase selections on a nitrile substrate. An Abs6oon. = 1, resuspension of SEL700 screening host in 10 mM MgSO 4 was infected with kanamycin-resistant environmental DNA library for 45 minutes at 37 0 C, such that complete screening coverage of the library 5 was achieved. Infected cells, now denoted by kanamycin resistance, were plated on kanamycin LB plates and allowed to grow overnight at 30'C. Titer plates were also made to determine infection efficiency. Cells were pooled, washed, and resuspended the next morning with 10 mM MgSO 4 . Transformed clones were inoculated into M9 media (without nitrogen) with 10 mM of nitrile substrate. M9 media consisted of IX 10 M9 salts (NH 4 Cl omitted), 0.1mM CaCl 2 , 1 mM MgSO 4 , 0.2 % glucose, and approximately 10 mM of a nitrile selection substrate. The selection cultures were then incubated at 30 0 C, shaking at 200 rpm, for up to five weeks. Positive nitrilase cultures were identified by growth, due to positive clone's ability to hydrolyze nitrile substrate. Positive clones were isolated by streaking out a selection culture with growth and 15 subsequent secondary culturing of isolated colonies in the same defined media. The DNA from any positive secondary cultures exhibiting re-growth was then isolated and sequenced to confirm discovery of a nitrilase gene and to establish the unique nature of that gene. 20 2. Nitrilase Biopanning. Traditional filter lift hybridization screening protocols are limited to libraries with approximately 106 to 10' members. Attempting to screen one library would require approximately 5,000 filter lifts. Therefore, solution phase and other biopanning formats have been developed for ultra high throughput sequence based screening 25 permitting rapid screening of up to 108 member environmental libraries In the solution format, the DNA from a large number of library clones is mixed with tagged molecules of interest under conditions which promote hybridization. The tagged clones and hybridized DNA are then removed from solution and washed at some level of stringency to remove clones which do not have sequence identity with the probe. The 30 hybridized DNA is then eluted and recovered. Clones of interest are sequenced and -141cloned to provide enzyme activities of interest. This method has been demonstrated to achieve up to 1,000-fold enrichment per round for sequences of interest. 3. High Throughput Nitrilase Activity Assay. Activity assays were conducted using 25 mM (-3 mg/mL) substrate, 0.1 5 mg/mrL nitrilase in 0.25 nL of assay solution. Assay solutions consisted of 0-10% (v/v) MeOH in 0.1 M sodium phosphate buffer solution at pH 7 to 9 and temperatures 37*C or 22 0 C. Specific activities were measured at 5 min transformation time point, unless otherwise noted, and are expressed in units pmol mg-1 mif1. Enantiomeric excess and conversion rates were determined by high throughput HPLC analysis comparing 10 enzyme product concentration to standard curves of racermic acid products. Analytical conditions for the products are tabulated below. Analytical Methods: Acid Product Column Liquid Chromatography Retention Times of Method enantiomers (min) 1.1 mandelic acid Chirabiotic R 20%[0.5% AcOH, 80% C H 3 CN 2.4 (S); 2.9 (R) 100 x 4.6 mm 1 ml/min 1.2 2-CI-mandelic Chirabiotic R 20%[0.5% AcOH], 80% CH 3 CN 2.3 (S); 2.9 (R) acid 100 x 4.6 mm I ml/min 1.3 2-Br-mandelic Chirabiotic R 20%[0.5% AcOH}, 80% CH 3 CN 2.8; 4.0 acid 100 x4.6 mm 1 m/min 1.4 2-CHrmandelic Chirabiotic R 20%[0.5% AcOH], 80% CH3CN 3.1; 3.8 acid 100 x 4.6 mm I ml/min 1.5 3-Cl-mandelic Chirabiotic R 10%[0.5% AcOH], 90% CH 3 CN 3.1; 3.8 100 x 4.6 mm I ml/min 1.6 3-Br-mandelic Chirabiotic R 10%[0.5% AcOH], 90% CH 3 CN 3.3; 3.9 100 x4.6 mm 1 ml/min 1.7 4-F-mandelic Chirabiotic R 20%[0.5% AcOH], 80% CH 3 CN 3.7; 4.8 I mi/min -142- 150 x 4.6 mm 1.8 1-napthylglycolic Chirabiotic R 4%[0.5% AcOH], 96% CH 3 CN 3.1; 3.7 acid 100 x 4.6 mm I ml/min 1.9 2-napthylglycolic Chirabiotic R 4%[0.5% AcOl-], 96% CH 3 CN 3.7; 4.7 acid 100 x 4.6 mm I ml/min 1.10 3-pyridylglycolic Chirabiotic R 5% (0.5% AcOlH], 65% H20, 4.4; 5.5 acid 30% CH 3 CN, 2 ml/min 100 x 4.6 mm 1.11 3-thienylglycolic Ch irabiotic R 20%[0.5% AcOH], 80% CH 3 CN 1.4; 2.5 acid 100 x 4.6 mm 2 ml/min 2.a1 phenyl lactic acid Chirabiotic R 20%[0.5% AcO], 80% CH 2 CN 2.8 (S); 4.0 (R) 150 x 4.6 mm I ml/mn 2.2 2-methylphenyl Chirabiatic R 20%[0.5% AcO1-], 80% CE-ICN 2.5; 2.8 lactic acid 150 x 4.6 mm I mi/min 2.3 2-fbromophenyl Chirabiotic R 20%[0.5% AcOH], 80% CH3CN 2.8; 32 lactic acid 150 x 4.6 mm I mil/min 2.4 2-fluorophenyl Chirabiotic R 20%[0.5% AcOH], 80% C1H 3 CN 2.6; 2.9 lactic acid 150 x 4.6 mm I ml/min 2.5 3-methylphenyl Chirabiotic R 20%[0.5% AcOH], 80% CH 3 CN 2.4; 3.2 lactic acid 150 x 4.6imm I mil/min 2.6 3-fluorophenyl Chirabiotic R 20%[0.5% AcOHJ, 80% CH 3 CN 2.8; 3.6 lactic acid 150 x 4.6mm I ml/min 2.7 l-napthyllactic Chirabiotic R 20%[0.5% AcOH}, 80% CH 3 CN 2.7; 3.1 acid 150 x 4.6mm I ml/min 2.8 2-pyridyllactic Chirabiotic R 20%[0.5% AcOR-i, 80%4 CH 3 CN 2.5; 2.9 acid 150 x 4.6mm I mil/min 2.9 3-pyridyllactic Chirabiotic R 20%[0.5% AcOR], 80% CH 3 ,CN 2.9; 3.6 acid 150 x 4.6mm 1 mI/mmn 2.10 2-thienyllactic Chirabiotic R 20%[0.5% AcOH], 80% CH 3 CN 3.6; 4.6 -143acid 150 x 4.6mrn I mi/rain 2.11 3-thienyllactic Chirabiotic R 20%['5% AcOH], 80% CH 3 CN 3.5; 4.6 acid 150 x 4.6mm I mi/min MethyI(3-0 Daicel OD 5% isopropanol, 95% hexane 4.5 (R); 5.4(5) [benzoyl]-4 cyano)-butanoate 50 x 4.6 mm I mi/min Cyanohydrin (Substrate) Synthesis: Mandelonitrile Synthesis Method A: Acetone cyanohydrin (685 pL, 7.5 mmol), 5 aldehyde (5 mmol), and catalytic DIEA (13 pL, 0.075 mmol) were mixed at 0 DC. The reactions were stirred on ice for 45 minutes. To drive the equilibrium toward the product, acetone was removed in vacuo. Subsequently, crude reactions were acidified with H2SO4(3 gL) and stored at -20'C. TLC was used to monitor reaction progress (3:1 hexane/ethylacetate (EtOAc). 10 Mandelonitrile Synthesis Method B: To a solution of KCN (358 mg, 5.5 mmol) in MeOH (1 mL) at 0 0 C was added aldehyde (5 nmol) and acetic acid (315 pL, 5.5 mmol). After stirring for one hour on ice, MeOH was removed in vacuo, and the crude mixture was partitioned using EtOAc and H 2 0. The organic fraction was retained and concentrated in vacuo. TLC analysis was used to monitor reaction progress (3:1 15 Hexanes/EtOAc). Aryl Acetaldehyde Cyanohydrin:, Arylacetic acid (50 mmol) was dissolved in 50 ml anhydrous tetrahydrofuran (THF) in a two-neck 500 ml round-bottom flask under

N

2 (g) atmosphere. To this solution cooled to 0 "C, under vigorous mixing, was added slowly 105 mmol of thexylchloroborane-dimethyl sulfide (2.55 M in methylene 20 chloride). The reaction was allowed to proceed overnight. Excess acetic acid (10 ml) was added to quench and acidify the reaction followed by the addition 10 ml water. After stirring at room temperature for 1 hour, solvent was removed in vacuo and the residue was dissolved in 100 nil water and extracted with 200 ml EtOAc. The EtOAc layer was dried over sodium sulfate, filtered and then concentrated in vacuo. 25 Subsequently, 60 mmol of KCN, followed by 100 ml methanol was added to the -144residue. The solution was then cooled to 0 *C and acetic acid (60 mmol) added. The reaction was stirred for 1-2 hours after all KCN dissolved. Solvents were removed in vacuo and residue was dissolved in 100 ml water and 200 ml EtOAc. The aqueous layer was extracted with EtOAc one more time. Combined EtOAc extracts were 5 washed with saturated brine and dried over sodium sulfate, filtered and then concentrated in vacuo to obtain crude cyanohydrin product. The cyanohydrin was purified by silica-gel column (hexane/EtOAc), as necessary. 2-chloro mandelonitrile: 'H NMR (CDCl 3 , 500 MHz) 5 7.69 (m, 1H), 7.41 (n, 1H), 7.36 (n, 2H), 5.84 (s, 1H), 3.07 (br, 1H). 3 C NMR (CDC 3 , 125 MHz) 5 132.89, 10 132.73, 131.22, 130.19, 128.48, 127.84, 118.24, 60.87. MS calc'd for [C 8

H

6 ClNOJ 167.01 found 167.9 (LC-MS +). 2-bromrnomandelonitrile: 'H NMR (CDC 3 .500 MHz) 5 7.72 (d, 1H, J= 6.58), 7.62 (d, 1H, J= 8.35), 7.43 (t, 1H, J= 8.42), 7.30 (t, 1H, J= 7.00), 5.85 (s, 1H). 3 C NMR

(CDC

3 , 125 MHz) 5 134.550, 133.584, 131.564, 128.819, 128.535, 122.565, 15 118.153, 63.379. 2-methylmandelonitrile: 'H NMR (CDCl 3 , 500 MHz) 5: 7.60 (d, I H, J= 7.4), 7.23 7.35 (m, 3H), 5.66 (s, 1H), 2.44 (s, 3H). 1 3 C NMR (CDCl 3 , 298 K, 125 MHz) 6: 136.425, 133.415, 131.450, 130.147,127.204, 126.894, 118.952, 18.916. MS calc'd for [C9H 9 NO] 147.07, found 147.2 (ESI +). 20 3-chloromandelonitrile: 'H NMR (CDCl 3 500 MHz) 6 7.55 (s, IH), 7.43-7.37 (n, 3H), 5.54 (s, 1H). "C NMR (CDC 3 , 125 MHz) 6 137.183, 135.480, 130.718, 130.303,127.047, 124.891, 118.395, 63.156. MS calc'd for [C 8

H

6 CINO] 167.01 found 167.9 (LC-MS +). 3-bromomandelonitrile: 'H NMR (CDC 3 .500 MHz) 5 7.69 (s, 1H), 7.56 (d, J= 6.2 25 Hz, 1H), 7.45 (d, J= 5.5Hz, 1H), 7.32 (t, J= 6.4. Hz, 1H), 5.53 (s, 1H). ' 3 C NMR

(CDC

3 , 125 MHz) 5 137.376, 133.201, 130.934, 129.208,125.359, 123.3 80, 118.458, 63.006. MS calc'd for [CsH 6 BrNO] 212.0 found 211.9 (LC-MS +). -145- 4 -fluoromandelonitrile: 'H NMR (CDCh.500 MHz) a 5.54 (s, 1H), 7.13 (n, 2H), 7.51-7.53 (m, 2H). 3 C NMR (CDC 3 , 125 MHz) 6 63.02, 116.44, 118.97, 128.90, 131.54, 132.51, 162.575. 4-chloromandelonitrile: 'H NMR (CDC1 3 , 500 MHz) a 7.47 (d, J= 7.0 Hz , 2H), 7.42 5 (d, J= 7.0 Hz, 2H), 5.53 (s, 1H). 13 C NMR (CDC1 3 , 125 MHz) 5 136.209, 133.845, 129.647, 128.232, 118.630, 63.154. MS calc'd for [CEH 6 CJNO] 167.01 found 167.9 (LC-MS +) 1-naphthyl cyanohydrin: 'H NMR (CDC 3 , 500 MHz) 6 8.14 (d, 1H, J 8.5), 7.92 (t, 2H, J= 6.1), 7.82 (d, 1H, J= 5.7), 7.62 (t, 1H, J= 6.1), 7.56 (t, 1H, J=6.1), 7.50 10 (t, 1H, J= 6.1), 6.18 (s, 1H); 3 C NMR (CDC 3 , 125 MHz) 6 137.0, 135.7, 134.2, 131.1, 129.2, 127.5, 126.7, 125.8, 125.3, 123.1, 119.0, 62.4; MS calc'd for [C, 2

H

9 01 183.21, found 183.2 (ESI+). 2-naphthyl cyanohydrin: 'H NMR (CDCb, 500 MHz) 6 8.03 (s, 1H), 7.92 (d, 1H, J = 8.6), 7.87-7.91 (m, 2H), 7.61 (dd, 1H, J= 6.7, 1.2), 7.55-7.60 (m, 2H), 5.72 (s, 15 1H); 3 C NMR (CDC 3 , 125 MI-z) a 134.9, 133.9, 132.7, 129.6, 128.6, 128.0, 127.4, 127.2, 126.4, 123.9, 118.9, 64.1; MS calc'd for [C 1 2H 9 0 183.21, found 183.2 (ESI 3-pyridyl cyanohydrin: 'H NMR (CDC1 3 , 500 MHz) 6: 8.62 (d, 1H, J= 1.8), 8.57 (d, 1H, J= 5.1), 7.94 (d, 1H, J= 8.1), 7.41 (dd, 1H, J= 8.1, 5.1), 5.64 (s, 1H); 3 C 20 NMR (CDC1 3 , 125 MHz) 5 149.921, 147.355, 135.412, 133.044, 124.443, 118.980, 61.085. MS calc'd for [C 7

H

6

N

2 0] 134.05, found 135.2 (ESI +). 3-thienyl cyanohydrin: 'H NMR (CDC1 3 , 500 MHz) a 7.45 (d, J= 2.2 Hz 1H), 7.56 (dd, .J= 6.2 Hz, 1H), 7.45 (d, J= 5.5Hz, 1H), 7.32 (t, J= 6.4. Hz, 1H), 5.53 (s, 1H). "C NMR (CDC 3 , 125 MHz) a 137.376, 133.201, 130.934, 129.208,125.359, 25 123.380, 118.458, 63.006. MS calc'd for [C 6

H

5 NOS] 139.01 found 139.9 (LC-MS +). phenyl acetaldehyde cyanohydrin: 'H NMR (CDC 3 , 500 MHz) 5 07.34 (m, 5H), 4.64 (t, J= 6.75 Hz, 1H), 3.11 (d, J= 6.75 Hz, 2H), 2.75 (br, IH). E 3 C NMR (CDC1 3 , 125 MHz) 6 133.96, 129.91, 129.16, 128.08, 119.47, 62.33, 41.55. -146- 2-methylphenyl acetaldehyde cyanohydrin: 'H NMR (CDCh, 500 MHz) 6 07.11 (n, 4H), 4.61 (t, J= 6.62 Hz, 1H), 3.12 (d, J= 6.62 Hz, 2H), 2.14(s, 3H). 0 "C NMR

(CDC

3 , 125 MHz) 5 136.94, 136.47, 132.57, 130.48, 127.61, 125.75, 120.11, 62.95, 44.73 MS calc'd for [CaoHI NO]: 161.08, found 162.2 (M+Na, ESI +) 5 2 -bromophenyl acetaldehyde cyanohydrin: 'H NMR (CDCJ, 500 MHz) 6 O 07.20 (m, 4H), 4.78 (t, J= 6.5 Hz, 1H), 3.26 (d, J= 6.5 Hz, 2H). "C NMR (CDC13, 100 MHz) 6 133.93, 132.82, 131.72, 129.21, 128.12, 124.86, 119.41, 63.02, 44.89. 2-fluorophenyl acetaldehyde cyanohydrin: 'H NMR (CDC1 3 , 500 MHz) 6 7.2 (m, 2H), 7.02 (n, 2H), 4.50 (dd, J= 4.62 Hz, J=7.88 Hz, 1H), 3.23(dd, J= 4.62 Iz, 1 J 10 = 14.12 Hz, 1H), 2.97 (dd, 7.88 Hz, 14.12 Hz, 1H). 3 C NMR (CDC1 3 , 125 MHz) a 132.18, 131.52, 129.66, 129.03, 128.07, 124.05, 115.8, 63.02, 44.79 MS calc'd for

[C

9

H

8 FNO] 165.06, found 164.2 (ESI+). 3-methylphenyl acetaldehyde cyanohydrin: 1 H NMR (CDC 3 , 500 MHz) a 7.18 (m, 1H), 7.02 (m, 3H), 4.54 (dd, J= 4.62 Hz, J= 8 Hz, 1H), 3.06 (dd, .= 4.62 Hz, J= 15 14.38 Hz, 1H), 2.83(dd, J=8 Hz, 1= 14.38 Hz, 1H), 2.36 (s, 3H) 3 C NMR (CDC1 3 , 125 MHz) 8 176.25, 138.18, 136.0, 130.97, 128.93, 127.68, 126.58, 76.42, 34.29, 37.69 MS calc'd for [CoH 2 0 3 ] 180.08, found 180.0 (ESI +). 3-fluorophenyl acetaldehyde cyanohydrin: 'H NMR (CDC 3 , 500 MHz) 6 7.18 (m, 2H), 6.95 (m, 2H), 4.44 (dd, 1H), 3.11(dd, 1H). 3 C NMR (CDC1 3 , 125 MHz) 20 a 130.40, 125.53, 124.85, 116.92, 114.87, 114.50, 119.77, 61.97, 41.27. 1-napthyl acetaldehyde cyanohydrin: 'H NMR (CDC1 3 , 500 MHz) 5 8.07(m, 1K), 7.86(m, 1H), 7.74(rn, 1H), 7.41(m, 4H),4.20 (t, J= 7 Hz, 1H), 3.33 (d, J= 6.8 Hz, 2H) 3 C NMR (CDC1 3 , 125 MHz) 5 177.7, 140.31, 129.74, 129.24, 128.92, 128.26, 127.84, 125.63, 124.53, 124.05, 123.42, 70.58, 38.0 MS calc'd for [C, 3

H

11 NO1 25 197.08, found 197.1 (ESI +). 2-pyridyl acetaldehyde cyanohydrin: 'H NMR (CDC 3 , 500 MHz) a 8.50 (m, I H), 7.85 (m, 1H), 7.48 (n, 1H), 7.34 (m, 1H), 4.42 (m, 1H), 3.19 (dd, J= 3.5 Hz, J= 13.7 Hz, 2H). "C NMR (CDC 3 , 125 MHz) 5 157.44, 145.69, 140.24, 126.96, 126.16, 122.99, 60.30, 42.60 MS calc'd for [C 8

H

8

N

2 0] 148.06, found 149.1 (ESI +). -147- 3-pyridyl acetaldehyde cyanohydrin: 'H NMR (CDC 3 , 500 MHz) 5 8.62 (d, 1H, J - 1.8), 8.57 (d, 1H, J= 5.1), 7.94 (d, 1 H, J= 8.1), 7.41 (dd, 1H, J= 8.1, 5.1), 5.64 (s, lH). 3 C NMR (CDC 3 , 125 MHz) 5: 149.921, 147.355, 135.412, 133.044, 124.443, 118.980, 61.085. Exact Mass calculated for [C 7 H6N 2 0]: 134.05, found: 135.2 (ESI t). 5 2-thienyl acetaldehyde cyanohydrin:'H NMR (CDCb, 500 MHz) 6 7.1 (i, 1H), 6.9 (m, 1H),6.8 (rn, 11), 4.11 (t,J=7.OHz, 1H),2.86 (d, J=7.OHz,2H). "CNMR

(CDC

3 , 125 MHz) 5 127.68, 127.41, 125.58, 124.60, 118.70, 63.25, 44.84. 3-thienyl acetaldehyde cyanohydrin: 'H NMR (CDC1 3 , 500 MHz) 5 7.09 (m, 3H), 4.60 (t, J= 6.25Hz, I H), 3.12 (d, J= 6.25Hz, 2H). 13 C NMR (CDCl 3 , 125 MHz) 10 6 129.05, 127.16, 125.27, 122.65, 119.87, 61.58, 44.90. Preparation of racemic mandelic acids standards from corresponding cyanohydrins: (Stoughton, R.W. I Am. Chem. Soc. 1941, 63, 2376) 2 bromomandelonitrile (230 mg, 1.08 mmol) was dissolved in conc. HCl (1 mL) and stirred at room temperature for 18 h and then at 70 *C for 24 h. After cooling, the 15 reaction mixture was extracted with diethyl ether (4 x 2 mL). Organic extracts were, combined, dried over MgSO 4 , filtered and concentrated in vacuo. 2-bromomandelic acid was-isolated as a colorless powder (180 mg, 0.78 mmol, 70 % yield). Preparation of racemic aryllactic acids standards from corresponding amino acids: Phenylalanine (10 mrnol, 1.65g) was dissolved in 30 ml 2N H2S04 at room 20 temperature under N 2 (g) atmosphere. Sodium nitrite (1.4 g in 3 ml aqueous solution, 2 eq) solution was added slowly to the reaction mixture over a period of 3-4 hours with vigorous stirring at room temperature under N 2 (g) atmosphere. The reaction mixture was stirred overnight and the phenyllactic acid product was then extracted into diethylether (3 x 30 ml). Combined ether extracts were dried over MgSO 4 and then 25 filtered and concentrated in vacuo. (Kenji, I.; Susumu, A.; Masaru, M.; Yasuyoshi, U.; Koki, Y.; Koichi, K. Patent Number, WO0155074, Publication date: 2001-08-02.) General Method for Enzymatic Preparation of ct-hydroxy acids: (R)-(-)-Mahdelic Acid To a solution of mandelonitrile (1.005 g, 7.56 mmol) in 150 mL of sodium phosphate (100 mM) buffer at pH 8 with 10% v/v methanol, that had -148been N 2 (g) sparged, at 37 'C, was added 9 mg of nitrilase 1 (normalized for nitrilase content). The reaction was conducted under N 2 (g)-atmosphere on a rotating platform shaker. Reaction progress was monitored by withdrawing aliquots for HPLC analysis. After 3 h incubation, the reaction mixture was acidified to pH 2 with 1 N HCI and 5 extracted with diethyl ether (4 x 50 ml). Organic fractions were concentrated in vacuo and then the residue was taken up in 10% sodium bicarbonate solution. This aqueous solutions was then washed with diethyl ether (3 x 50 ml) and then acidified to pH 2 with 1 N HCl and extracted with diethyl ether (3 x 50 ml). Organic fractions were combined, washed with brine, dried over MgSO 4 , filtered and then concentrated in 10 vacuo. (R)-(-)-Mandelic acid (933 mg, 6.22 mmol) was isolated as a colorless powder in 86 % yield. 'H NMR (DMSO-d 6 , 500 MHz) 5 12.6 (br, s, 1H) 7.41 (in, 2H), 7.34 (m, 2H), 7.28 (in, 11), 5.015 (s, IH). "C NMR DMSO-d 6 , 125 MHz) 5 174.083, 140.216, 128.113, 127.628, 126.628, 72.359. MS calc'd for [CgHs0 3 ] 150.07, found 150.9 (ESI +); ee = 98 % [HPLC]. [a] 20 5 9 8 = -134.6 (c = 0.5, methanol). 15 (-)-2-chloromandelic acid 'H NMR (DMSO-d 6 , 500 MHz) a 7.75 (i; 1H), 7.44 (m, 1H), 7.34 (m, 2H), 5.34 (s, 1H). 3 C NMR (DMSO, 298K, 125MHz) 6 173.070, 137.985, 132.105, 129.399, 129.158, 128.705, 127.235, MS calc'd for [C 8 H7C10 3 1 186.0, found 185.0 (LC-MS -). ee = 96 % [HPLCI. 92 % yield. [a] 20 59= -137.

6 (c= 0.5, ethanol). 20 (-)-2-bromomandelic acid 'H NMR (DMSO-d 6 , 500 MHz) 5 7.60 (d, J=7.93, 1H), 7.48 (m, 1H), 7.40 (m, 1H), 7.25 (m, 1H), 5.30 (s, I H). "C NMR DMSO-d 6 , 125 MHz) 5 172.994, 139.61, 132.355, 129.652, 128.753, 127.752, 122.681, 71.644. MS calc'd for [CsH 7 BrO 3 ] 230.0, found 230.9. ee = 96% [HPLC]. 92% yield. [a]2o 598 116.4 (c= 0.5, ethanol). 25 (-)-2-methylmandelic acid 1 H NMR (DMSO-d 6 , 500 MHz) 6 11.78 (bs, 1H) 7.38 (m, 1H), 7.16-7.38 (m, 3H), 5.18 (s, 1H), 2.35 (s, 3H). "C NMR DMSO-d 6 , 125 MHz) 6 174.229, 138.623, 135.649, 130.129, 127.491, 126.990, 125.698, 125.698, 69.733, 18.899. MS calc'd for [C9H,003] 166.1, found 165.2. ee = 91 % [HPLC]. 86 % yield. [ g]2098= -164.4 (c = 0.5, ethanol). -149- (-)-3-chloromandelic acid 'H NMR (DMSO-d 6 , 500 MHz) 5 7.46 (s, 1H), 7.36 (m, 3H), 5.07 (s, 1 H). "C NMR (DMSO, 298K, 125MHz) 6 173.554, 142.685, 132.813, 130.069, 127.568, 126.355, 125.289,71.659. MS calc'd for [CH 7 C10 3 ] 186.0, found 185.34 (MALDI TOF -). ee = 98 % [HPLC]. 70 % yield. [a]2s= -120.4 8 (c= 0.5, 5 methanol). (-)-3-bromomandelic acid 'H NMR (DMSO-d 6 , 500 MHz) a 7.60 (s, 1H), 7.49 (m, 1H), 7.42 (i, 1H), 7.31 (n, 1H), 5.06 (s, 1H). "C NMR (DMSO, 298K, 125MHz) 6 173.551, 142.917, 130.468, 130.379, 129.237, 125.687, 121.404, 71.605. MS calc'd for [CsH 7 BrO 3 ] 229.98, found 229.1 (LC-MS). ee = 98 % [HPLC]. 82 % yield. 10 [c] 2 %593= -84.8 (c= 0.5, ethanol). (-)-4-fluoromandelic acid 'H NMR (DMSO, 298K, 500MHz) a 12.65 (s, 1H), 7.44 (m, 2H), 7.17 (m, 2H), 5.91 (s, 1H), 5.03 (s, 1H) 3 C NMR (DMSO, 298K, 125MHz) 5 173.93, 162.57, 136.47, 128.61, 128.55, 114.96, 114.80, 71.61. MS calc'd for

[C

8 H7F0 3 ] 170.0, found 168.8. ee = 99% [HPLC]. 81% yield. [a} 20 598 -152.8 (c= 15 0.5, methanol). (-)-I-naphthylgly colic acid 'H NMR (DMSO-d6, 500 MHz) a 8.28-8.26 (m, 1H), 7.87-7.93 (n, 2H), 7.47-7.58 (i, 4H), 5.66 (s, 1H). 3 C NMR DMSO-d 6 , 125 MHz) 5 174.288, 136.284, 133.423, 130.654, 128.353, 128.192, 125.926, 125.694, 125.613, 125.266, 124.558, 70.940. MS calc'd for [C1 2 H1003]: 202.21 found 201.37 20 (MALDI TOF -). ee = 95% [HPLCJ. 90 % yield [a] 2 59= -115.4 (c = 0.5, ethanol). (-)-2-naphthylglycolic acid 'H NMR (DMSO-d 6 , 500 MHz) a 12.6 (bm, 1 H), 7.88 7.93 (m, 414), 7.48-7.56 (n, 3H), 5.20 (s, 1H). 3 C NMR DMSO-d 6 , 125 MHz) 5 174.005,137.760,132.644,132.498, 127.811, 127.658, 127.506, 127.209, 125.993, 125.334, 124.761, 72.472. MS calc'd for [C] 2 H1 0 0 3 ] 202.21, found 201.37 (MALDI 25 TOF). ee = 98% [HPLC]. 68% yield. [a]2059g= -115.4 (c = 0.5, ethanol). (-)-3-pyridylglycolic acid This Reaction was performed in 100 mM ammonium formate buffer at pH 8. To isolate the product, the reaction mixture was filtered through a 10,000 MWCO membrane to remove enzyme and then concentrated in vacuo. 'H NMR (DMSO-d 6 , 500 MHz) 5 8.56 (s, 1H), 8.36 (d, J= 4.57 Hz, 1H), 8.25 -150- (s, 11), 7.71 (m, 1H), 7.25 (dd, J= 4.98, 4.80 Hz 1H), 5.45 (s, 1HI). "C NMR DMSO-d 6 , 125 MHz) 5 165.911, 147.862, 147.251, 139.118, 133.381, 122.746, 71.508. MS calc'd for [C 7

H

7

NO

3 ] 153.04, found 154.0 ((MALDI TOF). ee = 92% [HPLC], 84% yield, [a] 2 0 598 = -65.2 (c = 0.5, H20). 5 (-)-3-thienylglycolic acid 1H NMR (DMSO-d 6 , 500 MHz) 6 7.48 (m, 1H), 7.45 (d, J=2.81, iH,), 7.10 (m, 111), 5.09 (s, 1H), 3.33 (s, iH) "C NMR (DMSO, 298K, 125MHz) 5 173.704, 141.109, 126.446, 126.042, 122.247, 68.915 MS calc'd for

[C

6

H

6 0 3 S] 158.00, found 157.224 (MALDI TOF). ee = 95 % [HPLC]. 70 % yield. [a] 20 spa= -123.2 8 (c= 0.5, methanol). 10 (S)-(-)-phenyllactic acid 'H NMR (DMSO-d 6 , 500 MHz) S 7.28(m, 5H), 4.17(dd, J = 4.5 Hz, J= 8.3 Hz, 1H), 2.98(dd, J= 4.5 Hz, J= 13.7 Hz, 1H), 2.79 (dd, J= 8.3 Hz, J= 13.7 Hz, 1H). "C NMR (DMSO, 298K, 125MHz) 5 178.16, 133.4, 129.27, 128.6, 127.3, 70.45, 44.12. ee = 97 % [HPLC], 84 % yield. [a] 20 598= -17.8 (c= 0.5, methanol). 15 (-)-2-methylphenyllactic acid 'H NMR (DMSO-d 6 , 500 MHz) 8 7.16 (m, 4H), 4.47 (dd, J= 3.9 Hz, J= 8.8 Hz, 1H), 3.25(dd, J= 3.9Hz, 14.3 Hz, 1H), 2.94 (dd, J 8.8 Hz, J= 14.3Hz), 2.35(s, 3H). "C NMR (DMSO, 298K, 125MHz) 5 178.61, 137.08, 134.74, 130.80, 130.25, 127.44, 126.34, 70.93, 37.67, 19.79. MS calc'd [C1 0

H

12 0 3 ] 180.08, found 180.0 (ESI +). 86 % yield. ee = 95 % [HPLC]. [a]2059 8 -13.2 (c= 0.5, 20 methanol). (-)-2-broinophenyllactic acid '11 NMR (DMSO-d 6 , 500 MHz) 8 7.28 (m, 4H), 4.60(dd, J= 4.0 Hz, J= 9.1 Hz, 1H), 3.45(dd, J= 4.0 Hz, J= 14.1 Hz, 111), 3.04(dd, J= 8.0 Hz, J= 14.1 Hz, 1H). "C NMR (DMSO, 298K, 125MHz) 8 178.70, 136.05, 133.21, 132.10, 128.99, 127.72, 125.0, 70.04, 40.76. MS calc'd for [CgHgBrO 3 ] 25 243.9, found 243.3 (ESI +). 91 % yield. ee = 93 % [HPLC], [a] 29 = -17.6 (c= 0.5, methanol) (-)-2-fluorophenyllactic acid 'H NMR (DMSO-d 6 , 500 MHz) 5 7.10 (m, 4H), 4.64 (t, J = 6.8 Hz, 1H), 3.11(d, J= 6.8 Hz, 2H). 3 C NMR (DMSO, 298K, 125MHz) 5 132.18, 131.52, 129.66, 129.03, 128.07, 124.05, 115.8, 63.02, 44.79. MS calc'd for -151- [C9HgFNO): 165.06, found 164.2 (ESI +). 91 % yield. ee = 88 % [HPLC]. [a] 2Os9s -14.0 (c= 0.5, methanol). (-)-3-methylphenyllactic acid 'H NMR (DMSO-d 6 , 500 MHz) 5 7.18 (m, 1H), 7.02 (n, 3H), 4.54 (dd, J= 4.6 Hz, J= 8.0 Hz, IH), 3.06(dd, J= 4.54 Hz, J= 14.4 Hz, 5 1H), 2.83(dd, J= 8.0 Hz, J= 14.4 Hz, 1H), 2.36 (s, 3H). "C NMR (DMSO, 298K, 125MHz) 5 175.88, 163.80, 130.33, 130.09, 125.7, 116.68, 113.75, 71.31,34.28. MS calc'd for [CoH, NO] 161.08, found 162.2 (ES1 +). 80 % yield. ee = 98 % [HPLC]. [a] 20 59 8 = -2.4 (c= 0.5, methanol). (~)-3-fluorophenyllactic acid 'H NMR (DMSO-d 6 , 500 MHz) 5 7.2 (m, 1H), 6.9 (m, 10 3H), 4.56 (dd, 4.5 Hz, J = 7.9 Hz, 1H), 3.09(dd, J= 4.5 Hz, J= 14.1 Hz, 1H), 2.86 (dd, J= 7.9 Hz, J= 14.1 Hz, 1H). 3 C NMR (DMSO, 298K, 125MHz) 5 175.88, 163.80, 130.33, 130.09, 125.7, 116.68, 113.75, 71.31, 34.28. MS calc'd for

[C

9

H

9 0 3 FJ 184.05, found 184.1 (ESI +). 82 % yield. ee = 97 % [HPLC}. [a] 20 s59 5.2 (c= 0.5, methanol). 15 (-)-1-napthyllactic acid 'H NMR (DMSO-d 6 , 500 MHz) 5 8.57 (m, 1H), 8.21(m, 1H), 8.08 (m, 11), 7.61 (m, 4H), 4.64 (dd, 3.5 Hz, 8.5 Hz, 1H), 3.84 (dd, J= 3.5 Hz, J= 14.5 Hz, 1H), 3.38 (dd, J= 8.5 HzJ= 14.5 Hz, 1H) "CNMR (DMSO, 298K, 125MHz) 5 177.7, 140.31, 129.74, 129.24, 128.92, 128.26, 127.84, 125.63, 124.53, 124.05, 123.42, 70.58, 38.0. MS calc'd for [C1 3 H1 NO] 197.08, found 197.1(ESI +). 20 87 % yield. ee = 94 % [HPLC]. [_}2059 3 -16.2 (c= 0.5, methanol). (-)-2-pyridyllactic acid 'H NMR (DMSO-d 6 , 500 MHz) a 8.49 (m, 1H), 7.62 (m, 1H), 7.21 (m, 2H), 4.50 (t, J= 5.0 Hz, 1H), 3.01 (d, J= 5.0 Hz, 2H). 1 3 C NMR (DMSO, 298K, 125 MHz) 5 178.8, 159.79, 148.84, 136.89, 124.35, 121.75, 71.14, 44.09. MS calc'd for [C8H 9 NO3]: 167.06, found 167.0. (ESI +). 62 % yield. ee = 94 25 % [HPLC}, [a) 2s5= -3.6 (c= 0.5, methanol). (-)-3-pyridyllactic acid 'H NMR (DMSO-d 6 , 500 MHz) S 8.43(m, 2H), 7.62(n, 1H), 7

.

2 8(m, 1H), 4.57(t, 5.37Hz, 1H), 2.85(d, 5.37Hz, 2H). 3 C NMR (DMSO, 298K, 125 MHz) 5 176.6, 150.03, 147.12, 136.41, 129.45, 123.26, 61.56, 31.46 MS calc'd -152for [C&H g N0 3 ] 167.06, found 167.0 (ESI+). 59 % yield. ee = 94 % [HPLC]. [a]' 5 98 = -4.0 (c = 0.5, methanol). (-)-2-thienyllactic acid 1 H NMR (DMSO-d 6 , 500 MHz) 5 7.18(m, lH), 6.94(m, 1H), 6.90 (m, 1H), 4.49 (dd, J= 4.1 Hz, J= 6.25 Hz, 1H), 3.36 (dd,J= 4.1 Hz, J= 15.0 5 Hz, 1H), 3.26(dd, J= 6.25 Hz, J= 15.0 Hz, 1H). "C NMR (DMSO, 298K, 125MHz) 5 127.68, 127.41, 125.58, 124.60, 118.70, 63.25, 44.84. MS calc'd for

[C

7 H7NOS] 153.02, found 153.0 (ESI +). 85 % yield. ee = 95 % [HPLC]. [a]sgcz 13.0 (c= 0.5, methanol). (-)-3-thienyllactic acid 'H NMR (DMSO-d 6 , 500 MHz) S 7.30(m, 1H), 7.13(m, 1H), 10 7.01(m, 1H), 4.50 (dd, J= 4.25 Hz, J= 6.5 Hz, 1H), 3.21(dd, J= 4.25 Hz, J= 15.0 Hz, 1H), 3.10 (dd, J= 6.5 Hz, J= 15.0 Hz, 1H). 13 C NMR (DMSO, 298K, 125MHz) 5 127.50, 136.09, 128.83, 126.24, 123.32, 70.65, 34.84. MS calc'd for

[C

7

H

8 0 3 S] 172.02, found 172.1 (ESI +). 81 % yield. ee 96 % [HPLC]. []f598= 18.8 (c= 0.5, methanol). 15 Enzymic Hydrolysis of 3-HydroxyglutaryInitrile: 3-Hydroxyglutarylnitrile (1.0 g, 9.0 imol, 240 mM) was suspended in N 2 (g) sparged sodium phosphate buffer (37.5 mL, pH 7, 100 mM) at room temperature. Cell lysate (30 mg, normalized for nitrilase content) was added to bring the concentration to 0.8 20 mg/ml enzyme and the reaction was at shaken at 100 rpm, room temperature. Reaction progress was monitored by TLC (1:1 EtOAc:Hexanes, Rf0.32, nitrile; RO.0, acid) After 22 h, the reaction was acidified with IM HCl. The reaction mixture was continuously extracted with diethyl ether. The acid product was isolated as a yellow oil (1.15 g, 98 % yield). 'H NMR (DMSO, 298K, 500MHz) 6 12.32 (s, 1H), 5.52 (s, 25 -1H), 4.10 (m, IH), 2.70 (dd, 1H, J= 16.8, 4.1 Hz), 2.61 (dd, lH, J= 16.9, 6.3 Hz), 2.44 (dd, 1H, J= 15.4, 5.3 Hz), 2.37 (dd, 1H, J = 15.6, 7.8 Hz). 3 C NMR (DMSO, 298K, 125 MHz) 8 171.9, 118.7, 63.4, 41.2, 25.2 MS calc'd for [C 5

H

7 N03]: 129.0, found 130.0 [M+H*], (ESI +). -153- Preparation of (R)-(-)-Methyl (3-0-[benzoyll-4-cyano)-butanoate Benzoyl chloride (0.068 ml, 0.752 mmol) was added to a stirred solution of(R) methyl-(3-hydroxy-4-cyano)-butanoate (71.7 mg, 0.501mimol) in pyridine (2.0 ml), at room temperature. After 19 hours, add an additional 0.5 equivalent of benzoyl 5 chloride (0.023ml, 0.251mmol). Reaction was complete at 23 h, as determined by TLC. Add 1ml H20, extract with ether (3 x 1Onl). Wash with brine (2 x 1Oml). Dry combined aqueous extracts with MgS04. Filter off drying agent and remove solvent by rotary evaporation. Purify by column chromatography (hexane:ethyi acetate [2:11. Rotary evaporation of fractions yielded the product as a yellow oil (46 mg, 0.186 10 mmol, 37%). 'HNMR (DMSO, 298K, 500MHz) 5 7.96 (d, 2H, J= 7.8), 7.70 (t, 1H, J= 7.25), 7.56 (t, 2H, J= 7.8), 5.55 (m, 1H), 3.59 (s, 3H), 3.13 (m, 211), 2.90 (m, 2H). 13 C NMR (DMSO, 298K, 125MHz) 8 169.6, 164.5, 133.8, 129.3, 128.9, 128.5, 117.3, 66.0, 51.8, 37.5, 22.2 MS calc'd for [C 13

H

13 N0 4 ]: 247.25, found 270.3 [M+Naf] ee = 95% [HPLCJ. [a] 2 598 -32.4 (c = 0.5, CHCl 3 ). 15 Synthesis of (R)-Etlyl-(3-hydroxy-4cyano)-butanoate A 0.2 M solution of (R)-3-hydroxy-4-cyano-butanoic acid (50 mg, 0.387 mmol) in anhydrous ethanol (1.94 mL) was prepared. The ethanol solution was added dropwise to 1.0 ml of a 50:50 (v/v) mixture of anhydrous 1 M HCl ethereal solution and 20 anhydrous ethanol over sieves. The reaction was stirred overnight at room temperature under N 2 (g) atmosphere. The reaction was monitored by TLC, (1:1 EtOAc:Hexanes, Rr = 0.45, ester; Rr= 0.0, acid, stained with p-anisaldehyde). After 30 hrs, solvent was removed by rotary evaporation. The crude product was taken up in 25 mL ether, washed with 5 mL saturated bicarbonate and then 5 mL brine. The organic extract was 25 dried over MgSO 4 , filtered and then concentrated in vacuo, yielding the product as a clear oil. 1 H NMR (DMSO, 298K, 50OMHz) 5 5.60 (d, 1H, J= 5.58 Hz), 4.12 (m, 1 H), 4.07 (q, 2H, J= 7.1), 2.66 (m, 2H), 2.47 (m, 2H), 1.87 (t, 3H, J= 7.0). "C NMR (DMSO, 298K, 125 MHz) 5 170.21, 118.60, 63.40, 59.98, 41.10, 25.14, 14.02. MS calc'd for [C 7

H

1 IN0 3 ]: 157.1, found 158.2. [M+H*] -154- Example 13 - Optimization Of Nitrilases For The Enantioselective Production Of (R)-2-Chloromandelic Acid Chloromandelic acid has the structure: HO H COOH 5C1 Nitrilases were identified which selectively produced (R)-2-chloromandelic acid from (RS)-2-chloromandelonitrile. Nitrilases were identified which were useful to improve the enantioselectivity of the enzymes and establishing the effects of process 10 conditions on the enzynies. An examination of the reaction conditions for the enzymatic nitrile hydrolysis was carried out in order to improve the enantiomeric excess of the product. Additionally, further investigation into the effects of process conditions on the enzyme was performed. OH HO H CN COOH CI Cl 2-chloromandelonitrile (R)-2-chloromandelic acid 15 In this embodiment, the enantioselective production of (R)-2-chloromandelic acid was the target. One enzyme, SEQ ID NOS:3 85, 386, was selected for further confirmation of its enantioselectivity on 2-chloromandelonitrile. SEQ ID NOS:385, 386 was shown to be stable to process components, with a half-life of 8 hours. The 20 enzyme was inhibited by 2-chlorobenzaldehyde and a contaminant in the cyanohydrin substrate, 2-chlorobenzoic acid. The enzymatic reaction was scaled up to a substrate concentration of 45 mM 2-chloromandelonitrile. Over 90% conversion was obtained, with ee of 97%. The chiral HPLC method was improved, to remove a contaminating -155peak that was present in the substrate. Improved accuracy in the determination of enantio selectivity was obtained using this method. Nitrilases were screened against 2-chloromandelonitrile, with 31 nitrilases exhibiting activity on this substrate. High enantioselectivities were shown by 9 5 enzymes. The optimization of 5 of these enzymes was undertaken and one of them was identified as a candidate for the next stage of development. In an effort to improve the enantioselectivity of the selected enzymes for (R)-2 chloromandelic acid, a number of factors that are known to affect this property, together with the activity of the enzymes, were investigated. These included pH, 10 temperature, buffer strength and addition of solvents to the reaction. Initially, 5 nitrilases were selected for these studies, based on the high enantioselectivities obtained by these enzymes. These enzymes were: SEQ ID NOS:385, 386, SEQ ID NOS:197, 198, SEQ ID NOS:217, 218, SEQ ID NOS:55, 56, and SEQ ID NOS:167, 168. 15 Effect of pH The enzymatic reactions were run at a range of pH values, from pH 5 to pH 9. An increase in both activity and enantioselectivity with increasing pH was observed for all of the enzymes. With the exception of SEQ ID NOS:385, 386, pH 9 (0.1 M Tris HCl buffer) was determined as the optimum for activity and enantioselectivity. The 20 optimum pH for SEQ ID NOS:3 85, 386 was pH 8 (0.1 M sodium phosphate buffer). Effect of temperature The enzymes exhibited similar temperature profiles, with the highest-activities being measured at 37 0 C and 450C. Although the latter temperature resulted in higher conversions, the enantioselectivity of most of the enzymes showed a clear preference 25 for the lower temperatures, with ee values being 10-20% lower when the temperature was raised above 37 0 C. In the case of SEQ ID NOS:385, 386 a slight optimum for enantio selectivity was evident at 37 0 C. Therefore, this temperature was established as the optimum for hydrolysis of 2-chloromandelonitrile by these enzymes. Effect of enzyme concentration -156- During the concurrent investigation into the enantioselective hydrolysis of phenylacetaldehyde cyanohydrin to L-phenyllactic acid, the concentration of the enzyme in the reaction was found to have a significant effect on the enantioselectivity of the reaction. This provided an indication that the enzymatic hydrolysis rate was 5 faster than the rate of racemization of the remaining cyanohydrin in the reaction. On this basis, the effect of enzyme concentration on the enantioselectivity of the enzymes towards (R)-2-chloromandelonitrile was investigated. Enzymatic reactions were performed with the standard concentration of enzyme (0.6 mg protein/il), half the standard concentration and one-tenth of the standard concentration. 10 The following Table indicates the highest conversions achieved for the reactions, with the corresponding ee. With the exception of SEQ ID NOS:385, 386, it appears that very little, if any, increased enantioselectivity is observed. Therefore, it appears that the rate of racemization of the remaining chloromandelonitrile is not a limiting factor to obtaining higher enantioselectivities. 15 Effect of enzyme concentration on the activity and enantioselectivity of nitrilases for the production of (R)-2-chloromandelic acid. Enzyme conc Conversion to Time for highest ee (mg proteinlml) product (%) conversion (h) SEQ ID NOS:385, 386 0.06 67 3 92 0.3 80 1 82 0.6 81 1 82 SEQ ID NOS: 197, 198 0.06 3 5 100 0.3 46 4 88 0.6 75 3 86 SEQ ID 0.06 82 488 -157- NOS:189, 190 0.3 80 1 86 0.6 76 0.5 82 SEQ ID NOS:217, 218 0.06 22 5 ND 0.3 73 4 82 0.6 72 1.5 81 SEQ ID NOS:55, 56 0.06 81 5 84 0.3 73 2 79 0.6 37 0.5 76 SEQ ID NOS: 167, 168 0.06 31 2 81 0.3 74 1.5 80 0.6 74 2 78 Investigation of other positive enzymes In addition to the enzymes in the above Table, a number of other nitrilases were screened for their enantioselectivities on 2-chlioromandelonitrile. Some of these 5 enzymes were newly discovered enzymes. Some were reinvestigated under conditions that have since been found to be optimal for these enzymes (pH 8 and 37 0 C). The results of this screening are shown below in the Table. Summary of enzymes screened for activity and enantioselectivity on 2 chloro mandelonitrile Enzyme Conversion to Time for highest ee (%) product (%) conversion (h) SEQ ID NOS:383, 384 61 6 78 -158- SEQ ID NOS:101, 102 58 3 53 SEQ ID NOS:97, 98 46 3 87 SEQ ID NOS:13, 14 70 3 71 SEQ ID NOS:5,6 >95 3 67 SEQ ID NOS:85, 86 50 4 52 SEQ ID NOS:279, 280 >95 1 37 SEQ ID NOS:33, 34 >95 3 60 SEQ ID NOS:261, 262 >95 3 70 Effect of co-solvent concentration The addition of methanol as a cosolvent in the enzymatic reactions was shown to enhance the ee. In order to establish the lowest level of methanol that could be 5 added to the reactions, the enzyme reactions were performed at varying concentrations of methanol, ranging from 0-20% (v/v). No significant differences in enantioselectivity were evident between the various methanol concentrations. However, the ee in these reactions was 97-98%, while that of the control reaction, with no added methanol was 95-96%. While this difference in ee is small, the effect of the methanol was shown in 10 more than one set of experiments during the course of this investigation and is therefore regarded as significant. Effect of reaction components on activity of SEO ID NOS:385, 386 A vital part of an investigation into process optimization of an enzyme involves 15 the determination of the effects of any compounds which could be present in the enzymatic reaction. For SEQ ID NOS:385, 386, these components were established -159as the starting material and equilibrium product of the cyanohydrin, 2 chlorobenzaldehyde; the product, 2-chiloromandelic acid and the contaminant detected in the substrate, 2-chlorobenzoic acid. The addition of cyanide to the reaction was found to have no effect on the enzyme activity: The presence of trace amounts of 5 triethylamine was also found to be tolerable to the enzyme. The effect of the various reaction components on the activity of SEQ ID NOS:385, 386 was assessed by addition of various levels of possible inhibitors to the enzyme reaction. From these experiments, it appeared that both the aldehyde and its oxidation product, 2-chlorobenzoic acid were detrimental to enzyme activity. 10 Approximately 70% and 40% of the activity of SEQ ID NOS:385, 386 was lost upon addition of 5 mlM 2-chlorobenzaldehyde or 5 mM 2-chlorobenzoic acid to the reaction, respectively. Scale-up hydrolysis of 2-chloromandelonitrile In order to confirm the conversion and enantioselectivity obtained by SEQ ID 15 NOS:3 85, 386 for the production of(R)-2-chloromandelic acid, a larger scale reaction was performed and the product isolated from the aqueous mixture. The reaction was performed in a 20 ml reaction volume, with a substrate concentration of 45 mM 2 chloromandelonitrile. Complete conversion of the cyanohydrin was obtained, with 30 mM product formed. The ee of the product was 97% and the specific activity of the 20 enzyme was 0.13 mmol product/mg nitrilase/h. It is evident from this experiment, together with the other experiments performed, that the formation of product does not account for the complete loss of substrate. In all experiments, a nitrile-containing control sample was run, in order to determine the extent of breakdown of the cyanohydrin. Overall, it appears that 25 approximately 50% of the substrate is lost over a period of 4 hours at 37 0 C. It is expected that this breakdown would be to its equilibrium products, cyanide and 2 chlorobenzaldehyde, which could undergo further oxidation. A larger scale reaction was also run at a substrate concentration of 90 mM 2-chloromandelonitrile. However, no product was detected in this reaction. At higher substrate concentrations, it is 30 expected that the concentration of the equilibrium product, 2-chlorobenzaldehyde and -160the contaminant, 2-chlorobenzoic acid will be present in higher amounts. Based on the results above, it is possible that the enzyme will be completely inhibited under such conditions. Reactions under biphasic conditions 5 The use of biphasic systems can facilitate product recovery following the enzymatic reaction step. These systems can be also be used for the removal of products or by-products which are inhibitory to the enzyme. The nitrilases were shown to be active under biphasic conditions using a variety of solvents. Following the low conversions obtained at the higher substrate concentration above, further 10 investigation of a biphasic system was performed with the hit enzyme, SEQ ID NOS:385, 386. It was important to ascertain whether any inhibitory factors could be removed by the solvent phase and whether any process advantages could be gained by the use of a biphasic system. Promising results were obtained with hexane as the organic phase- Therefore, 15 further investigations involved the use of this solvent at two different levels: 100% and 70% of the volume of the aqueous phase, with increasing substrate concentrations, up to 90 mM. The substrate was dissolved in the organic phase. The level of hexane did not appear to affect the level of product formation, particularly at the higher concentrations of2-chloromandelonitrile. 20 Once again, high conversion was observed in a biphasic system, with a 76% yield of product being observed after 5 hours. The rate of product formation appeared to be slightly lower than in the corresponding monophasic system, where the reaction is complete within 1 hour. Lower enantioselectivity was observed in the biphasic system. Some possibilities which may account for these results are (i) the mass 25 transfer rate is lower than the rate of enzyme activity or (ii) the non-polar solvent directly affects the enzyme. At a higher substrate concentration, a very low conversion was observed, with 7 mM 2-chloromandelic acid being formed from 90 mM 2-chloromandelonitrile. This level of conversion, albeit low, was higher than that observed in the monophasic 30 system with the same substrate concentration. These results suggest that some of the -161inhibitory 2-chlorobenzaldehyde or 2-chlorobenzoic acid is retained in the non-polar organic solvent. Standard assay conditions: 5 The following solutions were prepared: - Substrate stock solution: 50 mM of the cyanohydrin substrate in 0.1 M phosphate buffer (pH 8). - Enzyme stock solution: 3.33 m of 0.1 M phosphate buffer (pH 8) to each vial of 20 mg of lyophilized cell lysate (final concentration 6 mg protein/m) 10 The reaction volumes varied between the different experiments, depending on the number of time points taken. Unless otherwise noted, all reactions consisted of 25 mM 2-chloromandelonitrile and 10% (v/v) of the enzyme stock solution (final concentration 0.6 mg protein/mil). The reactions were run at 37 0 C, unless otherwise stated. Controls to monitor the nitrile degradation were run with every experiment. These consisted of 15 25 mM 2-chloromandelonitrile in 0.1 M phosphate buffer (pH 8). Sampling of reactions: The reactions were sampled by removing an aliquot from each reaction and diluting these samples by a factor of 8. Duplicate samples were taken for analysis by chiral and achiral HPLC methods. The reactions were sampled at 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 3, and 4 hours, unless otherwise shown in the figures above. 20 HPLC methods The achiral HPLC method was run on a SYNERGI-RPTM column (4 [tm; 50 x 2 mm) with a mobile phase of 10 mM Na phosphate buffer (pH 2.5). A gradient of methanol was introduced at 3.5 min and increased to 50% over 1.5 min, following which the methanol was decreased to 0%. Elution times for 2-chloromandelic acid and 25 2-chloromandelonitrile were 2.5 and 6.1 minutes, with another peak appearing with the nitrile at 5.9 minutes. As described above, the chiral HPLC method was optimized during the course of the investigation, to improve the separation between 2-chlorobenzoic acid and (S) -162- 2-chloromandelic acid. The optimized method was used during the latter half of the investigation and was run on a CHIROBIOTIC-RTM column. The mobile phase was 80% Acetonitrile:20% of 0.5% (v/v) acetic acid. Elution times for (S)-2 chloromandelic acid and (R)-2-chloromandelic acid were 2.4 and 3.5 minutes 5 respectively. A peak for 2-chlorobenzoic acid eluted at 1.9 minutes. For each experiment, a standard curve of the product was included in the HPLC run. The concentration of product in the samples was calculated from the slope of these curves. Effect of pH The effect of pH on the enzyme activity and enantioselectivity was studied by 10 performance of the standard assay in a range of different buffers: 0.1 M Citrate Phosphate pH 5; 0.1 M Citrate Phosphate pH 6; 0.1 M Sodium Phosphate pH 6; 0.1 M Sodium Phosphate pH 7; 0.1 M Sodium Phosphate pH 8; 0.1 M Tris-HCl pH 8; and 0.1 M Tris-HCI pH 9. The standard enzyme concentration was used for all enzymes, with the exception of SEQ ID NOS:385, 386, where half the standard concentration 15 was used (5% v/v of the enzyme stock solution). Effect of temperature The effect of temperature on the activity and enantioselectivity was investigated by performing the standard assay at a range of different temperatures: room temperature, 37"C, 45 0 C, 50"C and 60*C. The standard enzyme concentration 20 was used for all enzymes, with the exception of SEQ ID NOS:385, 386, where half the standard concentration was used (5% v/v of the enzyme stock solution). Effect of enzyme concentration Reactions were run under standard conditions, with varying enzyme concentrations: 1%, 5% and 10% (v/v) of the enzyme stock solution. The reaction 25 volume was normalized with the appropriate buffer. Addition of solvents The enzyme reactions were performed in the presence of methanol as a cosolvent. Methanol was added to the standard reaction mixture at the following levels: 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20% (v/v). -163- Biphasic reactions with hexane were also investigated. The aqueous phase contained 10% (v/v) of the enzyme stock solution in 0.1 M phosphate buffer (pH 8). The cyanohydrin was dissolved in the hexane, prior to addition to the reaction. Two levels of organic phase were used: I equivalent and 0.7 equivalents of the aqueous 5 phase volume. In addition, a range of nitrile concentrations was investigated: 25, 45 and 90 mM. These reactions were run at room temperature. Samples from these reactions were taken both from the aqueous and the solvent phase. The hexane was evaporated by centrifugation under vacuum and redissolved in a 50:50 mixture of methanol and water, so that the samples were at the 10 same dilution as the aqueous samples. Analysis of the samples was performed by non chiral and chiral HPLC. Effect of process components (i) Activity: The effect of the process components on the activity of the enzymes was established by addition of the individual components, 2 15 chlorobenzaldehyde, 2-chlorobenzoic acid or 2-chloromandelic acid, to the enzymatic reaction. The enzymatic reactions were carried out under standard conditions, in the presence of one of the 2 possible inhibitors as follows: 5, 10, 20 and 25 mM 2 chlorobenzaldebyde; 1.5 and 5 mM 2-chlorobenzoic acid; and 10, 20, 40 and 80 mM 2-chloromandelic acid. Control reactions were performed under standard conditions, 20 with no additive. At each of the sampling times, the samples were diluted to a level of I in 10. Control samples containing the reaction components without enzyme were used and diluted to the same level. The samples were analysed by non-chiral HPLC. (ii) Stability: The stability of the enzymes to process conditions was monitored by incubation of the enzymes in the presence of the reaction components, 2 25 chlorobenzaldehyde and 2-chloromandelic acid for predetermined time periods, prior to assay of the enzyme activity under standard conditions. In these experiments, the enzymes were incubated at a concentration of 3 mg protein/ml in the presence of each of the following reaction components: 5, 10, 20 and 25 mM 2-chlorobenzaldehyde; and 10, 20, 40 and 80 mM 2-chloromandelic acid. Control reactions were performed 30 by incubation of the enzyme in buffer only. -164- Assay conditions: At 0, 4, 8 and 24 hours of incubation in the particular additive, 20 p1 of the enzyme solution was removed and added to 60 RI of a 41.6 mM substrate stock solution and 20 p1 buffer. The enzyme activity was thus assayed under standard conditions. The reactions were sampled 90 minutes after substrate addition 5 and analyzed using the non-chiral HPLC method. Scale-up of enzymatic reaction The enzymatic reactions were run at two difference concentrations: 45 mM and 90 mM substrate. The reactions were run under standard conditions, i.e. pH 8 (0.1 M sodium phosphate buffer), 37*C and 10% (v/v) of the enzyme stock solution. The 10 substrate was dissolved in 10% (v/v/) methanol prior to addition of the buffer. The final reaction volume was 20 ml and the reactions were performed with magnetic stirring. Example 14 - Optimization Of Nitrilases For The Enantioselective Production Of 15 L-2-amino-6,6-dimethoxyhexanoic acid

H

2 N HCN, NH 4 + Me0

H

2 N CN OMe COOH MeO> _CHO OMe H OMe 5,5-dimethoxypentanal 5,5-dimethoxypentanal L-2-amino-6,6 aminonitrile dimethoxyhexanoic acid Four of the isolated enzymes were shown to hydrolyze 2-amino-6-hydroxy hexanenitrile to (S)-2-amino-6-hydroxy hexanoic acid, with selectivity towards the L 20 enantiomer. A new target, with a similar structure to (S)-2-amino-6-hydroxy hexanoic acid was identified. A panel of the isolated nitrilases are screened against the target, 5,5-dimethoxypentanal aminonitrile. The positive enzymes are characterized on this substrate. Laboratory evolution techniques can be used to optimize these nitrilases for improved enantiospecificity towards the specified target. A primary screen is used 25 to identify putative up-mutants, which is confirmed using HPLC. -165- Optimization of enzymes: GSSMTM and GeneReassemblyTM can be performed on selected nitrilases, in order to improve the enantioselectivity and activity of the enzymes for the production of L-2-amino-6,6-dimethoxyhexanoic acid. Four enzymes were identified that can hydrolyze enantioselectively 2-amino-6-hydroxy hexanenitrile 5 to L-(S)-2-amino-6-hydroxy hexanoic acid. However, a slight structural difference is present in the new target molecule, L-2-anino-6,6-dimethoxyhexanoic acid. In order to determine whether this difference affects the activity and enantioselectivity of the enzymes, the complete spectrum of nittilases is screened against the new target. An enzyme exhibiting the highest combination of activity and enantioselectivity 10 for the production of L-2-amino-6,6-dimethoxyhexanoic is selected for GSSMTM. Following the mutation of the target enzyme, the resulting mutants will be screened on 5,5-dimethoxypentanal aminonitrile, using high throughput screening technology. Following confirmation of the up-mutants by HPLC analysis, the individual up-mutants will be combined in order to further enhance the properties of the mutant enzymes. 15 In parallel to GSSMTM, a GeneReassemblyTM can be performed on a combination of parent enzymes, at least one of which can be selected for activity and enantioselectivity on L-2-amino-6,6-dimethoxyhexanoic acid. At least two other nitrilases, with a high degree of homology, can be reassembled with the former enzyme(s); these enzymes will be selected in order to provide diversity to the 20 reassembled sequences. Crucial to the success of this evolution effort is the development of a high throughput assay for enantioselectivity. Such an assay is a novel enzyme-based enantioselectivity assay that allows for the screening of >30,000 mutants in a significantly shorter time period than the traditionally used method of HPLC. 25 In one aspect, a non-stochastic method, termed synthetic ligation reassembly, that is related to stochastic shuffling, except that the nucleic acid building blocks are not shuffled or concatenated or chimerized randomly, but rather are assembled non stochastically, can be used to create variants. This method does not require the presence of high homology between nucleic acids to be shuffled. The ligation 30 reassembly method can be used to non-stochastically generate libraries (or sets) of -166progeny molecules having at least 10100 or at least 101000 different chimeras. The ligation reassembly method provides a non-stochastic method of producing a set of finalized chimeric nucleic acids that have an overall assembly order that is chosen by design, which method is comprised of the steps of generating by design a plurality of 5 specific nucleic acid building blocks having serviceable mutally compatible ligatable ends, as assembling these nucleic acid building blocks, such that a designed overall assembly order is achieved. The mutually compatible ligatable ends of the nucleic acid building blocks to be assembled are considered to be "serviceable" for this type of ordered assembly if they 10 enable the building blocks to be coupled in predetermined orders. Thus, in one aspect, the overall assembly order in which the nucleic acid building blocks can be coupled is specified by the design of the ligatable ends and, if more than one assembly step is to be used, then the overall assembly order in which the nucleic acid building blocks can be coupled is also specified by the sequential order of the assembly step(s). In a one 15 embodiment of the invention, the annealed building pieces are treated with an enzyme, such as a ligase (e.g., T4 DNA ligase) to achieve covalent bonding of the building pieces. In a another embodiment, the design of nucleic acid building blocks is obtained upon analysis of the sequences of a set of progenitor nucleic acid templates that serve 20 as a basis for producing a progeny set of finalized chimeric nucleic acid molecules. These progenitor nucleic acid templates thus serve as a source of sequence information that aids in the design of the nucleic acid building blocks that are to be mutagenized, i.e. chimerized, recombined or shuffled. In one exemplification, the invention provides for the chimerization of a family 25 of related genes and their encoded family of related products. In a particular exemplification, the encoded products are nitrilase enzymes. Nucleic acids encoding the nitrilases of the invention can be mutagenized in accordance with the methods described herein. Thus, according to one aspect of the invention, the sequences of a plurality of 30 progenitor nucleic acid templates encoding nitrilases are aligned in order to select one -167or more demarcation points, which demarcation points can be located at an area of homology. The demarcation points can be used to delineate the boundaries of nucleic acid building blocks to be generated. Thus, the demarcation points identified and selected in the progenitor molecules serve as potential chimerization points in the 5 assembly of the progeny molecules. Typically a serviceable demarcation point is an area of homology (comprised of at least one homologous nucleotide base) shared by at least two progenitor templates, but the demarcation point can be an area of homology that is shared by at least half of the progenitor templates, at least two thirds of the progenitor templates, at least three 10 fourths of the progenitor templates, and preferably at almost all of the progenitor templates. Even more preferably still a serviceable demarcation point is an area of homology that is shared by all of the progenitor templates. In a one embodiment, the ligation reassembly process is performed exhaustively in order to generate an exhaustive library. In other words, all possible ordered 15 combinations of the nucleic acid building blocks are represented in the set of fmalized chimeric nucleic acid molecules. At the same time, the assembly order (i.e., the order of assembly of each building block in the 5' to 3' sequence of each finalized chimeric nucleic acid) in each combination is by design (or non-stochastic, non-random). Because of the non-stochastic nature of the method, the possibility of unwanted side 20 products is greatly reduced. In another embodiment, the method provides that, the ligation reassembly process is performed systematically, for example in order to generate a systematically compartmentalized library, with compartments that can be screened systematically, e.g., one by one. Each compartment (or portion) holds chimeras or recombinants with 25 known characteristics. In other words the invention provides that, through the selective and judicious use of specific nucleic acid building blocks, coupled with the selective and judicious use of sequentially stepped assembly reactions, an experimental design can be achieved where specific sets of progeny products are made in each of several reaction vessels. This allows a systematic examination and screening procedure -168to be performed. Thus, it allows a potentially very large number of progeny molecules to be examined systematically in smaller groups. Because of its ability to perform chimerizations in a manner that is highly flexible, yet exhaustive and systematic, particularly when there is a low level of 5 homology among the progenitor molecules, the invention described herein provides for the generation of a library (or set) comprised of a large number of progeny molecules. Because of the non-stochastic nature of the ligation reassembly method, the progeny molecules generated preferably comprise a library of finalized chimeric nucleic acid molecules having an overall assembly order that is chosen by design. In a particularly 10 embodiment, such a generated library is comprised of greater than 103 to greater than 101000 different progeny molecular species. In another exemplification, the synthetic nature of the step in which the building blocks are generated allows the design and introduction of nucleotides (e.g., one or more nucleotides, which may be, for example, codons or introns or regulatory 15 sequences) that can later be optionally removed in an in vitro process (e.g., by mutageneis) or in an in vivo process (e.g., by utilizing the gene splicing ability of a host organism). It is appreciated that in many instances the introduction of these nucleotides may also be desirable for many other reasons in addition to the potential benefit of creating a serviceable demarcation point. 20 The synthetic ligation reassembly method of the invention utilizes a plurality of nucleic acid building blocks, each of which preferably has two ligatable ends. The two ligatable ends on each nucleic acid building block may be two blunt ends (i.e. each having an overhang of zero nucleotides), or preferably one blunt end and one overhang, or more preferably still two overhangs. On a double-stranded nucleic acid, a 25 useful overhang can be a 3' overhang, or a 5' overhang. A nucleic acid building block can have a 3' overhang, a 5' overhang, two 3' overhangs, or two 5' overhangs. The overall order in which the nucleic acid building blocks are assembled to form a finalized chimeric nucleic acid molecule is determined by purposeful experimental design (e.g., by designing sticky ends between building block nucleic acids based on 30 the sequence of the 5' and 3' overhangs) and is not random. -169- According to one preferred embodiment, a nucleic acid building block is generated by chemical synthesis of two single-stranded nucleic acids (also referred to as single- stranded oligos) and contacting them together under hybridization conditions so as to allow them to anneal to form a double-stranded nucleic acid building block. A 5 double-stranded nucleic acid building block can be of variable size. The sizes of these building blocks can be small or large. Preferred sizes for building block range from 1 base pair (not including any overhangs) to 100,000 base pairs (not including any overhangs). Other preferred size ranges are also provided, which have lower limits of from I bp to 10,000 bp (including every integer value in between), and upper limits of 10 from 2 bp to 100, 000 bp (including every integer value in between). According to one embodiment, a double-stranded nucleic acid building block is generated by first generating two single stranded nucleic acids and allowing them to anneal to form a double-stranded nucleic acid building block. The two strands of a double-stranded nucleic acid building block may be complementary at every nucleotide 15 apart from any that form an overhang; thus containing no mismatches, apart from any overhang(s). According to another embodiment, the two strands of a double-stranded nucleic acid building block are complementary at fewer than every nucleotide apart from any that form an overhang. Thus, according to this embodiment, a double stranded nucleic acid building block can be used to introduce codon degeneracy. 20 Preferably the codon degeneracy is introduced using the site-saturation mutagenesis described herein, using one or more NN,GIT cassettes or alternatively using one or more N,N,N cassettes. Example 15 - Assays for Evaluation of Nitrilase Activity and Enantioselectivity 25 An assay method amenable to high throughput automation to increase the screening throughput both of the discovery and evolution efforts for nitrilases is described, The ideal assay is one that permits quantification of both product formation or substrate conversion and also enantiomeric excess. Two achiral and two chiral colorimetric assays that are amenable to high throughput screening were developed. -170- Achiral Colorimetic Assays Developed: OPA assay for residual substrate. The OPA assay is Applicable to a-amino or a-hydroxy nitrile substrates. The lysis of whole cells is not necessary. These results were corroborated by HPLC for 2-chloromandelonitrile and phenyl acetaldehyde 5 cyanohydrin. The assay works best with aromatic nitriles. Aliphatic compounds exhibit a linear standard curve, fluorescence is reduced, reducing the efficacy of the assay. LDH Assay for quantification and ee determination of hydroxyacid formed. The LDH assay is applicable to phenyl lactic acid but not to 2-chloromandelic acid. 10 Use of a resazurin detection system increases sensitivity and reduces background. Background fluorescence of whole cells was overcome either by centrifuigation or heat inactivation prior to performing assay. AAO Assay for quantification and ee determination of aminoacid formed. The AAO assay is applicable to phenylalanine and (S)-2-amino-6-hydroxy hexanoic acid. 15 The use of the Amplex Red detection system increases sensitivity. Cell lysis was shown not be necessary. Cells are grown in defined media in order to prevent background fluorescence. OPA Assay 20 The o-phthalaldehyde (OPA) fluorescence based nitrilase assay is used to quantify the amount of a-hydroxynitrile substrate remaining. OPA reacts with the cyanide released from the pH controlled decomposition of a-hydroxynitriles to the corresponding aldehyde and cyanide to yield a fluorescent, quantifiable product. OPA reacts with the cyanide released from the pH controlled decomposition of a 25 hydroxynitriles to the corresponding aldehyde and cyanide to yield the fluorescent 1 cyano-2-R benzoisoindole. -171-

OH(NH

2 ) NITRILASE OH(NH 2 ) + NH 3 R CN 2H 2 0 R COOH Hydroxy nitrile Hydroxy acid Amino nitrile Amino acid pH = 10-12 0 R KH + R alkyl, aryl O CN H+ RNH 2 + NR H HJ o Fluores cent 1-cyano OPA 2-substituted benzoisoindble o EX X 320 nm, EMU 380 nm H H 0 NDA Standard curves were established for the following substrates: 2 Chloromandelonitrile (CMIN, 0.998), Cyclohexylmandelonitrile (CHMN, 0.99), 5 Acetophenone aminonitrile (APA, 0.99), and Phenylacetaldehyde cyanohydrin (PAC, 0.97), (Figure 5), (R2 values in parentheses). A standard curve for Phenylglycine (PGN, 0.93) was also established. Three of the substrates tested, Dimethylbutanal aminonitrile (DMB) (2-amino-4,4-dimethyl pentanenitrile), Hydroxypivaldehyde aminonitrile (HPA) and Pivaldehyde aminonitrile (PAH), gave very low fluorescence 10 readings and unreliable results under the original assay conditions. For these compounds a number of parameters where adjusted, however the fluorescent signal strength of these compounds was not increased by these manipulations. In an attempt to increase the fluorescent signal of these three compounds, naphthalene dicarboxaldehyde (NDA) was substituted for OPA. Standard curves for -172- PAH, HPA and DMB with either OPA or NDA were constructed. To determine sensitivity and background fluorescence, a lyophilized nitrilase lysate (SEQ ID NOS:189, 190) with suspected catalytic activity on each of the substrates was added. Hydrolysis was detected in three out of four of the compounds. NDA sharply boosted 5 the signal, often by an order of magnitude, though this reduced linearity is presumably due to signal saturation. NDA was established as an alternative detection reagent for the aliphatic compounds. However, it is desirable for the assay to utilize the same detection system for all of the substrates since this would facilitate the automated evaluation of multiple 10 nitrilase substrates. The current OPA based assay is effective for the analysis of PAC, CMN, CHMN, APA, MN and PGN. While standard curves have been developed for the aliphatic compounds PAH, HPA, and DMB. Whole cell optimization The effect of addition of lyophilized nitrilase lysate to the assay components, 15 either untreated or heat inactivated, was evaluated. Interfering background fluorescence was not observed in either case. The OPA assay was next evaluated and optimized for nitrilase activity detection in a whole cell format. Both nitrilase expressing whole cells and in-situ lysed cells were evaluated. Lyophilized cell lysates were evaluated alongside their respective whole cell clones as controls. For this 20 optimization study, mandelonitrile (MN) was chosen as a model substrate. The lyophilized cell lysate of SEQ ID NOS: 187, 188 was evaluated alongside whole cells expressing SEQ ID NOS: 187, 188 and in situ lysed cells expressing SEQ ID NOS:l 87, 188 The addition of whole cells did not affect fluorescence nor result in fluorescence quenching. Addition of any of the three cell lysis solutions improved 25 permeability (and therefore conversion) of mandelonitrile in the whole cell systems. Three cell lysing solutions were evaluated: B-PER (Pierce), BugBuster (Novagen) and CeiLytic B-II (Sigma) and were found not to have a deleterious affect on the OPA assay. The addition of product a-hydroxyacid or a-aminoacid did not affect detection by the OPA assay. -173- The assay was modified from its original format, which required several liquid transfer steps, into a one plate process, where cell growth, nitrile hydrolysis and OPA assay reaction occurred in the same microtiter plate. Mandelonitrile was tested using this single well format. In this case, the . coli. Gene site-saturation mutagenesis 5 (GSSM 1 ") cell host was evaluated. Three clones were tested: SEQ lD NOS:101, 102, SEQ ID NOS:187, 188, and an empty vector, which was used as a control. Hydrolysis was evaluated at four timepoints, at 10 and 20 mM, and also with a 0 mM control. In an earlier experiment, clone SEQ ID NOS:187, 188 was evaluated against the phenylacetaldehyde cyanohydrin substrate (for which this enzyme does not exhibit 10 activity), and no activity was observed. The OPA assay was found to detect the presence of both ct-hydroxy and cc amino nitrile substrate. Aromatic compounds were readily detectable with the assay, while aliphatic compounds posed some detection challenges. No background issues were evident when using lyophilized cell lysates, in-situ lysed whole cells or unlysed 15 whole cells. The assay is amenable to one-plate analysis, where cells are grown, incubated with the substrate, and assayed on the same plate: no liquid transfers are required, easing automation. While all nitriles tested produced a linear response, aliphatic compounds gave a low fluorescent response. Chiral LDH Assay 20 A spectroscopic system based on lactate dehydrogenase (L-LDH) was developed for the analysis of the chiral cc-hydroxy acids which are generated by the nitrilase catalyzed hydrolysis of cyanohydrins. The hydroxynitrile substrate is not metabolized by the secondary or detection enzyme and thus starting material does not interfere. Cell lysate which is not heat treated results in background activity for the 25 LDH system; however, heat inactivation or pelleting of the cell lysates eliminates the background activity. (See Figure 4.) The activity and enantiom6ric specificity of commercially available D- and L lactate dehydrogenases against the nitrilases disclosed herein was evaluated. An LDH was identified which is suitable to both D- and L-phenyl lactic acid analysis. An -174enzyme suitable for 2-Chloromandelic acid analysis was not found. The chosen LDH enzymes exhibited virtually absolute stereoselectivity. The viability of the assay to detect D- and L-LDH produced from PAC using lyophilized cell lysate was established. 5 Originally, three colorimetric dyes were evaluated, all of which are tetrazolium salts: NBT (3,3'- dimethoxy-4,4'-biphenylene)bis [2,(4-nitro phenyl) -5-phenyl-2H]-, chloride) MTT (3 -(4,5- dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) INT (2-(4-Iodophenyl)-3-(4-nitrophenyl)-5-phenyl- 2H-tetrazolium chloride). The insolubility of the product of these detection system posed an analytical challenge. To 10 address this, another tetrazolium salt with a reportedly soluble product, XTT (2,3-Bis (2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl) -2H-tetrazolium-5-carboxanilide, was evaluated. While XTT yielded a soluble bright red product, the substrate was insoluble which thus effected the same analytical challenges. As an alternative to the tetrazolium family of dyes, the dual colorinetric/fluorometric dye resazurin was evaluated. Oxidation of 15 resazurin produces resourfm. Both substrate and product are soluble, and the color change can be quantified colorimetrically or fluorimetrically, increasing accuracy. Due to the sensitivity of resazurin, 0.05 mM of lactic acid can be quantified. Optimal results were obtained when using the dye in the same range as the substrate, e.g. 0.5 mM resazurin can quantify a range of lactic (and analogs) from 0.05 to 0.5, though the 20 best linearity is at the lower end of this scale. Resourfin was stable over 28 hours, and had a linear fluorescent response. In the presence of the LDH assay components, lyophilized enzyme gave background fluorescence/absorption. To address this problem the lysate was boiled for 10 minutes and then centrifuged. This resulted in a 90% decrease in background 25 signal. Interestingly, both centrifugation alone (5 minutes @ 14.1 rcf) or boiling followed by centrifugation (5 minutes @ 100 0 C) reduced the fluorescence to background levels. In a high-throughput format such as 1536 well plates, spinning would be preferable to boiling, as boiling would increase evaporation (8 pl well size) and potentially volatize the nitrile substrates. No background signal resulting from -175growth media (LB and TB and M9) or cell lytic solutions (B-PER, CelLytic and BugBuster) was noted. Chiral AAO Assay A spectroscopic system based on amino acid oxidase (AAO) was developed for 5 the analysis of the chiral a-amino acids which are generated by the nitrilase catalyzed hydrolysis of amino nitriles. Assay Development and Validation The initial assay validation utilized the 2,2'-azino-di-{3-ethylbenzothiazoline- 6 10 sulfonic acid (ABTS) detection system as outlined above. However, since the color was not stable further investigations utilized the phenol amino antipyrine (PAAP) detection system which is analyzed at X max SlOnm. Enzymes with suitable activity were found for each enantiomer of 4-methyl- leucine, phenylalanine, (S)-2-amino- 6 hydroxy hexanoic acid, and tert-leucine. The assay is not applicable to 15 methylphenylglycine and does not work well with phenylglycine. Standard curves were generated for phenylalanine from 0-15 mM. The curve is much more linear when the concentrations remained below 1 mM. The color remains stable for several days as long as it is kept in the dark. Three cell lysing solutions Bug Buster (BB), Bacterial Protein Extracting Reagent (BPER), and Cell Lytic Reagent 20 (CLR) were added to the standard'curve and shown to have no affect on color development. The addition of cell lysate (cl) did not exhibit background color formation. Addition of the phenylacetaldehyde aminonitrile sulfate (PAS) starting material also showed no effect on color formation. The AAO system exhibits greater linearity at up to 1 mM substrate. The 25 concentration of the AAO enzymes and of the acid substrate were adjusted to try to move the intersection of the L-AAO and D-AAO curves closer to the middle of the graph. Premixing the PAAP, the HRP, and the AAO was demonstrated to be effective and caused no change in observed activity establishing that the assay components may be added to the assay in a cocktail format. -176- A high level of background was observed for the AAO assay of whole cells and this was attributed to the L-arnino acids present in the TB and LB growth media. Washing and resuspension of the cells in M9 media eliminated background. For all future experiments cells were grown in M9 media with 0.2% glucose. The lysed cells 5 gave only a slightly better response that unlysed cells. Therefore, cell lysis is not necessary. SEQ ID NOS:187, 188 demonstrated activity on HPA in primary screening based on HPLC analysis. The use of a fluorescent detection system which would permits implementation of the assay in ultra high throughput fashion such as 1536 well or gigamatrix format 10 was investigated. The fluorescent reagent most applicable to our system is Amplex Red from Molecular Probes which produces the highly fluorescent resorufin (ke 545 nm; k, 590n) Standard curves for phenylalanine and (S)-2-amino-6-hydroxy hexanoic acid were established (0-100 pM). In preparation for assay automation, nitrilase expressing cells were added into 15 microtiter plate containing M9 0.2% glucose,0.25 mM IPTG media by florescence activated cell sorting (FACS). Three nitrilase expressing subclones, and the empty vector control were evaluated: SEQ ID NOS:101, 102, SEQ ID NOS:187, 188, SEQ ID NOS:29, 30 and the empty vector. The viability of the cells following cell sorting proved to be inconsistent. Thus colony picking is currently being evaluated as an 20 alternative method to add cells into microtiter plates. The evaporative loss from an uncovered 1536-well microtiter plate is approximately 30% per day in the robot incubator (incubator conditions: 37 0 C at 85% relative humidity (RH)). Incubation in the 95% RH incubator reduced evaporative loss to 1% per day. The ability of the three subclones to grow in the presence of up to 3.5 mM of 25 nitrile was established using HPA nitrile. Growth rates were only slightly retarded (less that 30%). Subelones grown in the presence of HPA were shown to express a nitrilase that catalyzes the formation of hydroxy norleucine (HNL) as established using the Amplex Red detection system. Only S was evaluated as the enzymes are S-selective. The reaction plate was read at 10 minute intervals, with 40 minutes showing the best 30 linearity. While cell growth is significantly inhibited above 5 mM of HPA when the -177cells were grown at pH 7, growth was inhibited above 0.1 mM HPA for cells grown at pH 8. In order to verify the AAO results by HPLC, a reaction was performed using high concentrations of HPA, up to 40 mM (due to HPLC detection challenges for (S) 5 2-amino-6-hydroxy hexanoic acid) and lyophilized cell lysate SEQ ID NOS:187, 188. Comparison AAO and HPLC data for HNL %ee %conversion [HNL] mM AAO HPLC AAO HPLC 40 89% 100% 17% 18% 30 89% 97% 29% 36% 20 86% 97% 21% 34% 10 78% 98% 13% 35% In order to determine if conducting the screen at a lower concentration 10 introduces a bias in the results compared to the 20 mM substrate range that was used for HPLC based screens, an experiment was performed with SEQ ID NOS:187, 188 using three concentration ranges. Each experiment was done in triplicate in order to remove any nonsystematic error. SEQ ID NOS:187, 188: Observed conversion and ee at multiple concentrations of 15 HPA. Enantiomeric Excess (% ee) [HPA] mM 10 20 30 1 2 3 0.1 0.2 0.3 Trial#1 60 54 72 61 64 63 60 63 60 Trial#2 57 62 69 58 57 53 32 51 37 -178rial#3 53 62 69 60 55 52 79 103 72 AVG 57% 59% 70% 59% 59% 56% 57% 72% 560 % Conversion [HPA} mM 10 20 30 1 2 3 0.1 0.2 0.3 Trial #1 27% 27% 37% 34% 29% 43% 37% 29% 42% Trial #2 42% 43% 49% 48% 42% 56% 46% 44% 54%/ Trial #3 31% 32% 43% 22% 29% 27% 46% 27% 350/ AVG 33% 34% 43% 35% 34% 420/ 43% 33% 440%c The AAO assay can be run on 384 or 1536 well format with cells sorted into an M9 0.2% glucose, 0.25 mM IPTG media. Cells can be grown in the presence ofnitrile (in this case HPA), or the cells can be allowed to reach a certain density and the nitrile 5 can then be added. Though cell lytic reagents do not interfere with the assay, when HPA was assayed, addition of the lytic reagents was found to be unnecessary. Either pre- or post- nitrile addition, the mother plate will have to be split into daughter plates, which are then assayed for the respective L- and D- enantioner content. Incubation times with the AAO/Amplex Red reagents can be adjusted so that the D- and L- plate 10 are read at separate times. Example 16 - Identification, Development and Production of Robust, Novel Enzymes Targeted for a Series of High-Value Enantioselective Bioprocesses The invention provides for the development of nitrilases, through directed 15 evolution, which provide significant technical and commercial advantages for the process manufacturing of the following chemical target: L-2-amino-6,6-dimethoxyhexanoic acid -179- H-,

H

2 N H HCN, NH 4 + MeO H 2 N OMe COOH MeO CN MeOCHO OMe H OMe 5,5-dimethoxypentanal 5,5-dimethoxypentanal L-2-amino-6,6 aminonitrile dimethoxyhexanoic acid Nitrilase enzymes were shown to hydrolyze 2-amino-6-hydroxy hexanenitrile to (S)-2-amino-6-hydroxy hexanoic acid, with selectivity towards the L-enantiomer. The panel of nitrilases was screened against the target, 5,5-dimethoxypentanal aminonitrile. 5 The positive enzymes were characterized on this substrate. A primary screen is used to identify putative up-mutants, which is then confirmed using HPLC. GSSMTM and GeneReassemblyTM are performed on selected nitrilases, in order to improve the enantio selectivity and activity of the enzymes for the production of L-2 amino-6,6-dimethoxyhexanoic acid. Nitrilases were identified for the enantioselective 10 hydrolysis of 2-amino-6-hydroxy hexanenitrile to L-(S)-2-amino-6-hydroxy hexanoic acid. However, a slight structural difference is presented by the new target molecule, L-2-amino-6,6-dimethoxyhexanoic acid. In order to determine whether this difference affects the activity and enantioselectivity of the enzymes, the complete spectrum of nitrilases was screened against the new target. 15 First, identification of the correct target gene for GSSM through more detailed characterization of the hit enzymes for the production of L-2-amino-6,6 dimethoxyhexanoic acid was carried out. This effort involves a more extensive investigation of the effects of pH and temperature on activity and enantioselectivity and a more in-depth analysis of the stability of the enzyme to process conditions. Prior 20 to initiation of the screening, the synthesis of a single enantiomer of an alkyl aminonitrile is done; the racemization of this nitrile is studied, in an effort to understand the relationship between this factor and enantioselectivity of the enzymes. An enzyme exhibiting the highest combination of activity and enantioselectivity for the production of L-2-amino-6,6-dimethoxyhexanoic acid is selected for GSSM. 25 Following the mutation of the target enzyme, the resulting mutants are screened on 5,5-dirnethoxypentanal aminonitrile, using high throughput screening technology. -180- Following confirmation of the up-mutants by HPLC analysis a decision point is reached, in order to evaluate the results of the GSSM on the target. In parallel to GSSMTM, a GeneReassemblyM is performed on a combination of parent enzymes, at least one of which is selected for activity and enantioselectivity on 5 L-2-amino-6,6-dimethoxyhexanoic acid. At least two other nitrilases are reassembled with the former enzyme(s); these enzymes are selected in order to provide diversity to the reassembled sequences. The present invention provides for development of racemization conditions for the original substrate aminonitriles. In addition, the present invention provides for the 10 identification of enzymes capable of the conversion of these aminonitriles to the target a-amino acids by dynamic kinetic resolution. The present invention also provides for screening and development of a nitrilase-catalyzed kinetic resolution process for (R)-2 amino-6,6-dimethoxy hexanoic acid (allysine) production. (S)-2-amino-6-hydroxY hexanoic acid will be used as a model substrate for development of the kinetic 15 resolution. The target a-amino acid products are shown below: (i) D-4-Fluorophenylglycine CN NH 2 CHO HCN, NH 4 CI F NH 2 nitrilase F COOH FaF F 4-fluorobenzaldehyde 4-fluorophenylglycinonitrile (FPGN) D-4-fluorophenylglycine 20 (ii) Le2-Amino-6,6-dimethoxyhexanoic acid (Allysine) MeO HCN, NH 4 t OM e NH 2 nitrilase M e NH 2 _;- CHO - 1- 30 i" MeO MeC -_ CN MeO C0 2 H 5,5-dimethoxypentanal 5,5-dimethoxypentanal L-2-amino-6,6-dimethoxy aminonitrile (DMPAN) hexanoic acid -181- Conditions are developed for the racemization of the aminonitrile substrates for the nitrilase-catalyzed production of D-4-fluorophenylglycine and 2-amino-4, 4 dimethyl pentanenitrile (allysine). Two model substrates, phenylglycinonitrile and pentanal aminonitrile are used initially, and racemization is studied in the absence of the 5 enzyme. Concurrently determination of the performance of one or more available nitrilases under a variety of possible racemization conditions is carried out. In addition, the nitrilases are screened against hydroxypentanal aminonitrile for the production of (S)-2-amino-6-hydroxy hexanoic acid, and the promising enzymes are optimized. Once racenization conditions are established, the nitrilases are screened for 10 activity. Further optimization for a kinetic resolution of the product is performed. A number of enantioselective nitrilases were identified for the hydrolysis of a aminonitriles to a-amino acids. While these enzymes were shown to have a preference for the required enantiomer of certain aminonitriles, a lirniting factor in the further screening, development and comparison of candidate nitrilases is the rate of 15 racemization of the aminonitrile substrates under the reaction conditions. A romatic anilnonitrile racemization The first step is to establish conditions under which aromatic arninonitrile racemization occurs, using the model substrate, phenylglycinonitrile. Racenization strategies include, but are not limited to the list below. Options are roughly prioritized 20 according to their commercial applicability. (1) Manipulation of the pH of the reaction. Since it has been shown that racemization is rapid at high pH, this approach requires the discovery and optimization of nitrilases which are active and selective at pH>10. (2) Addition of known chemical racemizing agents, such as aldehydes, ketones, weak bases, 25 resins, metal ions, Lewis acids etc., which can enhance racemization at lower p H. (3) Synthesis of N-acylated aminonitrile derivatives, e.g. N-acetyl phenylglycinonitrile, which may be more easily racemized. In the case of N-acetyl phenylglycinonitrile, a selective D acylase which removes the acetyl group would enhance the optical purity of the nitrilase product. -182- (4) Use of a biphasic system in which base-catalyzed racemization occurs in the hydrophobic organic phase and enzymatic hydrolysis in the aqueous phase. (5) Use of a 2-enzyme system comprised of a nitrilase and an aminonitrile racemase. One amino acid racemase is commercially available at present, and will be tested for activity against 5 phenyl- and fluorophenylglycinonitrile. Gene libraries will be searched for genes showing homology to known amino acid amide racemases, hydantoin racemases or any other racemases which can be identified. Once conditions for this racemization have been established, they provide the basis for development of conditions for racenmization of the target aromatic substrate, 10 4-fluorophenylglycinonitrile (FPGN). The FPGN is expected to be less stable than the model substrate; thus, it may racemize more quickly, but degradation reactions may be faster as well. The ability of sample enzyme(s) to tolerate and/or function well under them is evaluated. Final optimization of screening methods include the target substrates, sample nitrilases, and substrate racemization conditions. 15 Investigations carried out have shown that phenylglycinonitrile is easily racemized at pH 10.8. However, it does not appear that any of the existing enzymes can tolerate such harsh conditions of pH. Samples from highly alkaline environments are screened for the presence of nitrilases which are tolerant to such conditions. Once discovered, the enzymes are sequenced and subeloned, and the enzymes are produced 20 as lyophilized cell lysates ready for screening. Aliphatic aminonitrile racemization A model aliphatic aminonitrile, pentanal aminonitrile, is synthesized in its racemic form. However optically enriched samples are prepared using one the following approaches: (i) preparative chiral HPLC; (ii) diastereomeric salt resolution; 25 (iii) diastereomeric derivatization or column chromatography; (iv) synthesis from L-N BOC norleucine. An HPLC assay is used for the detection of these compounds. HPLC Assay An IPLC assay for the detection of the (S)-2-amino-6-hydroxy hexanoic acid is used. An assay involving pre-column derivatization is used. -183- Screening/Characterization: Nitrilases are screened against 2-amino-6-hydroxy hexanenitrile. For enzymes capable of performing well at greater than 25 mM substrate, scale up reactions are performed. The substrate/product tolerance and stability profiles of the other enzymes 5 are investigated. The nitrilases are screened, and hits are characterized, focusing on pH and temperature optimum, enantioselectivity and stability under the reaction conditions. Enzyme Evolution A target enzyme exhibiting the desired properties is selected for GSSMTM. 10 Following the mutation of the. target enzyme, the resulting mutants are screened on the substrate using high throughput screening technology. Once the up-mutants have been confirmed by HPLC analysis, the individual mutations responsible for increased performance may be combined and evaluated for possible additive or synergistic effects. 15 In addition, a GeneReassemblyTM will be performed on a combination of lead enzymes, which are selected for their desirable characteristics, including activity, enantioselectivity and stability in the reaction. Example 17 Optimization of Nitrilases for the Enantioselective 20 Production of (S)-Phenyllactic Acid Nitrilases were identified for the enantioselective hydrolysis of 5 different nitrile substrates. These nitrilases were isolated and optimized for selected targets. The optimization involves process optimization and directed evolution. In particular, enzymes specific for the production of (S)-phenyllactic acid were characterized and 25 optimized. This was aimed primarily at improving the activity of the enzymes, while maintaining a high enantioselectivity. An investigation into the effects of process conditions on the enzymes was also performed. -184- CN COOH CHO HCN nitrilase 7 OH-*-HO H OH Phenyiacetaldehyde Phenylacetaldehyde (S)-Phenyllactic acid cyanohydrin The development of high throughput assays for screening of mutants from potential directed evolution efforts was accomplished. Two achiral and two chiral 5 colorimetric assays that are amenable to high throughput screening were developed and used for nitrilase directed evolution. SEQ ID NOS: 103, 104 was identified as a highly enantio selective nitrilase for the production of (S)- phenyllactic acid. Characterization of SEQ ID NOS:103, 104 shows the optimum reaction pH and temperature to be pH 8 and 37"C, respectively; 10 the reaction starting material, phenylacetaldehyde, and the product, phenyllactic acid showed no effect on the enzyme activity up to levels of 5 mM and 30 mM, respectively. The scaled-up enzymatic reaction with an enantiomeric excess (ee) of 95%. Summary of enzymes screened for activity and enantioselectivity on 15 Phenylacetaldehyde cyanohydrin SEQ ID Enzyme Conversion Time to highest ee (%) NOS: concentration (%) conversion (h) (mg protein/ml) 109, 110 0.15 70% 2 71% 115, 116 0.15 70% 3 72% 127, 128 0.15 66% 8 70% 133, 134 0.6 60% 3 84% 135, 136 0.15 63% 7 87% 125, 126 0.6 63% 3 83% -185- Example 18 - Directed Evolution of a nucleic acid encoding a nitrilase enzyme. The nitB gene (GenBank Accession No. AX025996, from Alcaligenes faecalis) was subjected to Gene Site Saturated MutagenesisTM or GSSMTM to generate a library of single amino acid substitution mutants covering the entire enzyme. The sequence of 5 the "parental" nitB gene used in the directed evolution is SEQ ID NO: 103, 104. A nitB mutant library was generated from carrying out GSSMTM. This nitB mutant library was then screened for clones with increased whole cell hydroxymethylthiobutryonitrile (HMTBN, which is a nitrilase substrate) activity. The product of the nitrilase reaction on that substrate is hydroxymethylthiobutyric acid 10 (HMTBA). Assays were run at 351C with 100mM HMTBN and 100mM K 3 P0 4 , pH 7 to approximately 30-40% conversion. Two methods were used to quantitate HMTBN conversion, one being direct measurement of HMTBS produced by HPLC analysis and the other being indirect detection of residual HMTBN using the fluorescent cyanide 15 assay, which has previously been described. Putative ni/B up mutants were subjected to a secondary assay to confirm the increased activity. In the secondary assay, up mutants and the wild type control were induced in expression medium in shake flasks. Shake flask cultures are then washed with 100imM K 3 P0 4 , pH7 and resuspended to the same optical density at 660nm. 20 Kinetic assays were then performed with the normalized cell resuspensions under the same conditions used in the initial assays. Putative up mutants confirmed to have increased HMTBN activity were sequenced and tested for increased activity after transformation back into the same expression strain to ensure that increases in activity are not due to host mutations. 25 A confirmed nitB GSSMTM up-mutant is nitB G46P, which contains a glycine (GGT) to proline (CCG) substitution at amino acid 46. The whole cell HMTBN activity of this mutant is approximately 50% greater than that of wild type NitB at both 25*C and 35*C. Upon identification of the beneficial G46P mutation, GSSMTM was used again to generate a pool of double mutants using the nitB G46P template. These -186mutants all contain the G46P mutation and an additional single amino acid substitution at a random site. The double mutants were assayed for HMTBN activity greater than that of nitB G46P. Double, triple and quadruple mutants were created in order to speed up the mutation process and identify beneficial mutations more quickly. After 5 the first few beneficial mutations were identified and isolated, they were combined to generate double mutants, the best of which was DM18. DM18 was used as a template to generate triple mutants. The most active triple mutant was TM3 and that was used as a template to generate quadruple mutants, The most active quadruple mutant was QM2. The table summarizes these mutations. mutant mutation 1 mutation 2 mutation 3 mutation 4 DM18 R (gcg) 29 C(tgt) Y(tac) 207 M (atg) TM3 R (gcg) 29 C(tgt) Y(tac) 207 M (atg) L(ctt) 170 T(act) QM2 R (gcg) 29 C(tgt) Y(tac) 207 M (atg) L(ctt) 170 T(act) A(gcg) 197 N9(aat) 10 The mutants were characterized first by studying their whole cell HMTBN activity. At 100 mM HMTBN, the HMTBS production rate of QM2 is 1.2 times greater than that of the parental gene. However, at 200 mM HMTBN, the rate of QM2 is 3.6 times that of the parental gene. The productivity of these mutants is 15 increased considerably when the HMTBN concentration is raised from 100 mM to 300 mM. As to conversion rates, TM3 completely converted the substrate after 270 minutes and both DM18 and SM show greater than 75% conversion after this time. To further address the issue of HMTBN concentration effects on activity/productivity of NitB, several mutants were assayed at both 400 mM and 528 mM HMTBN. NitB is 20 essentially inactive at these substrate concentrations, however the mutants retain significant activity at these concentrations. In particular, the activity at these high concentrations were essentially the same as their activity at 200 mM substrate. Therefore, the mutants can be used over a wide substrate concentration range and provide much more flexibility in utility than the NitB parental gene. -187- The mutants were shown to have higher expression levels than the parental gene and it also appeared tha the QM2 and TM3 mutants contained a greater proportion of soluble enzyme than the wild type as seen in SDS-PAGE analysis. As to stability, all of the enzymes showed essentially the same stability pattern at both 25 0 C 5 and 35 0 C. Finally, the mutants were subjected to codon-optimization. The approach was to optimize the codons and therefore increase the expression levels in the particular host cell. That would, in turn, increase the activity per cell of the enzyme. This resulted in increased whole cell activity in the codon-optimized mutants as compared 10 to controls. The increase in activity was approximately double the activity. An E. coli expression system was used. -188- Example 20 - Selected Examples of Compounds Produced From a Nitrilase Catalyzed Reaction

H

2 N NH 2

H

2 N COOH - COOH COOH SH HS D-2-amino butyrate D-thienyl glycine D-thienyl alanine OH OH NH 2 CN COOHNH (R)-3-hydroxy-cyanoglutaric acid COOK side chain for LIPITORTM, Baycol Nbeta-alanine D-methyl phenylglycine OH CN COOH .. (S)-3-hydroxy-cyanoglutaric acid COOH side chain for Lescol COO L-methyl phenylglycine N COOK H Sarcosine -189- HN COOH 0 COOH HOOH iminodiacetic acid H OH Pantenol COOK COOMe CO COOH Cl COOH S-Plavix COOH EDTA 5 -190- 0 S-Ditropan HO O NH

NH

2 COOH L-homophenyl alanine 5 0 COOH HO NH 2 Cynomel -191- COOH HO

NH

2 NH2 HS Cuprimine/Depen alpha-methyl-L-tyrosine N:- N HOOC H N N N Diovani 5 0 COOH HO

NH

2 Levothroid -192- HN NH Primaxin COOH HO ~ NH2 Ho H- -0NH2 L-Dopa D-Dopa 5 HHO NH22 ""/"CH3 HOHONC3 D-alpha-methyl-DOPA HOO L-alpha-methyl-DOPA -193- HOOC NH 2 HOOC NH 2 OH COOH OH COOH L-gamma-hydroxy glutamate D-gamma-hydroxy glutamate HOOC

NH

2 3-(2-napthyl)-L-alanine HO s\NH 2 HO

NH

2 COOH COOK L-homoserine D-homoserine

NH

2 NH 2 COOH COOH D-phenylglycine L-phenylglycine -194-

NH

2

NH

2 COOH HO coCOOH D-4-hydroxyl phenylglycine HO OH L-4-hydroxyl-phenylglycine

NH

2 0 0 COOH N D-tertiary leucine H N NN 0N OOH

NH

2 Cefobid COOH

NH

2 COOH COOH D-isoleucine L-tertiary leucine

NH

2 COOH L-isoleucine -195-

NH

2

NH

2 COOH ,--- COOH D-norleucine L-norleucine

NH

2 COOH NH 2 L-norvaline COOH D-norvaline -196- OH OH OH 7 COOH 7 COOH

H

3 CO NHCOOH F methoxy-mandelic acid fluoro-mandelic acid OH OH COOH COOH COOH OH 4-phenyl-2-hydroxy-3,4-butenoic acid 2-furanyl glycolic acid 3-furanyl glycolic acid HO COOH H OH CN COOH 1-napthyi glycolic acid HO 2-napthyl glycolic acid OH OH COOH COOH N COOH 2-pyridyl glycolic acid 3-pyridyl glycolic acid 4-pyridyl glycolic acid H OH OH 7 OOH COOH COOH COOH OH 1-pyrrole glycolic acid 2-thienyl glycolic acid 3-thienyl glycolic acid methyl-mandelic acid OH OH CGCOOH Br

-

COOH chloro-mandelic acid bromo-mand elic acid -197- OH OCH F NHOHO

F

3 C No" COOH O oHO: hydroxy phenyl lactic acid trifluormethyphenyl lactic acid fluorophenyl lactic acid napthyl acetic acid OH 'HOOC OH OHt OHI COOH 0 2 N OOH OOH MeO O methoxy pheny] lactic acid phenyl lactic acid nitro phenyl lactic acid methyl phenyl lactic acid OHOH OH O OH 00- COOH COOH Br N COOH Cl COOH bromophenyl lactic acid chlorophenyl lactic acid 2-hydroxy heptanoic acid 2-hydroxy-4-di-methyl-pentanoic acid OH COOH N OOH HCOOH 4-phenyl-2-hydroxyphenyl butanoic acid pyridyl acetic acid thienyl acetic acid -198- OH OH NC COOH NC COOH H 2 N COOH N-COOH 3-hydroxy-cyano gluteric acid 3-hydroxy-cyano gluteric acid beta-alanine Sarcosine side chain for LIPITOR, Baycol side chain for Lescol COOMe HN I-,COOH O COOH HN ' OH N iminodiacetic acid OH HCI COOH Pantenol S-Plavix COOH HO N,,,/ COOH HNO COOH EDTA S-Ditropan -199- 0 Me C0 2 H HO -N OH Dexketoprofen Me C02H Fenoprofen Me Flunoxaprofen N CO2H Me Ibuprofen Me t

CO

2 lH 0! Loxoprofen -200- C-0 2 H Pirprofen Me 'CQ2H Q Suprofen Zaltoprofen -201- COOH alpha-methyl benzyl cyanide derivatives 5 COOH intermediate for Trocade 10 N COOH H 15 3-methyl-2-carboxy-piperidine N COOH H -202- Fospril N COOH H 5 2-carboxy-cyclobutyl amine N COOH H 2-carboxy-piperidine 10 N N COOH H 2-carboxy-pi perazi ne 15 In addition, the following are potential products which can be made via the nitrilase Strecker format. More than 100 amino acids and many new drugs can be produced from their respective aldehydes or ketones utilizing the nitrilase enzymes of the invention. For example, large market drugs which can be synthesized using 20 nitrilases of the invention include homophenylalanine, VASOTECTM, VASOTERICTM, TECZEMTM, PRINIVIL

TM

, PRINZIDE T M , ZESTRIL T M , ZESTORETICTM, RAMACETM, TARKATM, MAVIKTM, TRANDOAPRILTM, TRANDOLAPRILATTM, -203-

ALTACE

T

M, ODIK T M , UNIRETIC

TM

, LOTENSIN T M , LOTREL T M , CAPOTENTM,

MONOPRIL

T

M, TANATRIL

TM

, ACECOL

TM

, LONGES T M , SPIRAPPJL T M , QUINAPRILTM, and CILAZAPRILTM. Other chiral drugs include DEMSER T M (alpha-methyl-L-Tyrosine), ALDOCHLOR T M , LEVOTHROID T M , SYNTHROIDTM, 5 CYTOMELTM, THYOLAR T M , HYCODAN

TM

, CUPPJMINE T M , DEPEN

TM

, PRIMAXINTM, MTGRANOL

TM

, D.H.E.-45, DIOVANT

M

, CEFOBID T M , L-DOPA, D DOPA, D-alpha-methyl-DOPA, L-alpha-methyl-DOPA, L-gamma-hydroxyglutamate, D-gamma-hydroxyglutamate, 3-(2-naphthyl)-L-alanine, D-homoserine, and L honoserine. 10 Furthermore, the nitrilase enzymes of the invention can be useful for synthesizing the following amino acids. Many of these amino acids have pharmaceutical applications. D-phenylglycine, L-phenylglycine, D hydroxyphenylglycine, L-hydroxyphenylglycine, L-tertiary leucine, D-tertiary leucine, D-isoleucine, L-isoleucine, D-norleucine, L-norleucine, D-norvaline, L-norvaline, D-2 15 thienylglycine, L-2-thienylglycine, L-2-aminobutyrate, D-2-aminobutyrate, D cycloleucine, L-cycloleucine, D-2-methylphenylglycine, L-2-methylphenylglycine, L thienylalanine, and D-thienylalanine. The enzymes of the nitrilase enzymes of the invention can be useful for the synthesis of the following natural amino acids: glycine, L-alanine, L-valine, L-leucine, 20 L-isoleucine, L-phenylalanine, L-tyrosine, L-tryptophan, L-cysteine, L-methionine, L serine, D-serine, L-threonine, L-lysine, L-arginine, L-histidine, L-aspartate, L glutamate, L-asparagine, L-glutamine, and L-proline. The following are examples of unnatural amino acids which can be produced using the nitrilase enzymes of the invention. D-alanine, D-valine, D-leucine, D-isoleucine, D-phenylalanine, D-tyrosine, 25 D-tryptophan, D-cysteine, D-methionine, D-threonine, D-lysine, D-arginine;D histidine, D-aspartate, D-glutarnate, D-asparagine, D-glutamine, and D-proline. Furthermore, nitrilase enzymes of the invention can be used in non-Strecker chemical reactions including the synthesis of more chiral drugs such as TAXOTERETM as well as chiral drugs containing 3-hydroxy-glutaronitrile (a $5.5B market); 30 LIPITORTM, BAYCOLTM, and LESCOLTM. Chiral product targets that are not drugs include PANTENOL T M , L-phosphinothricin, D-phosphinothricin, D -204fluorophenylalanine, and L-fluorophenylalanine. Finally, nitrilase can be used to produce unnatural amino acid compounds lacking a chiral center such as sarcosine, iminodiacetic acid, EDTA, alpha-aninobutyrate, and beta-alanine. The following section includes examples of substrates and products produced 5 by the nitrilases of the invention. The chemical structures of the substrates and of the products are shown. Activities, yield and the specific nitrilase shown to be useful in the chemical reactions are included in Tables following the reactions. The chemical reactions shown here are non-limiting examples of activities of the nitrilases of the invention. -205- OH OH OH Br CNBr BrOH 4-bromo mandelonitrile (R)-4-bromo mandelic acid (S)-4-bromo mandelic acid Cl OH Cl OH Ca OH - CN cCOOH - COOH 2-chloro man delonitrile (R)-2-chloro mandelic acid (S)-2-chloro mandelic acid OH- OH OH 0 2 N& CN COOH O2N COOH 4-nitro mandelonitrile (R)-4-nitro mandelic acid (S)--nitro mandelic acid OH OH OH CN COOH COOH 4-methyl mandelonitrile (R)-4-methyl mandelic acid (S)-4-methyl mandelic acid

NH

2

NH

2 NH 2 CN COOH COOH phenyl glycinonitrile (R)-phenyl glycine (s)-phenyl glycine

NH

2 NH 2 NH 2 N ON COOH N OOH phenyl methyl glycinonitrile (R)-phenyl methyl glycine (S)-phenyl methyl glycine

NH

2

NH

2 NH 2 N CN N COOH N COOH FFO F 7-"' 4-fluoro phe nyl glycinonitrile (R)-4-fluoro phenyl glycine (S)-4-fluoro phenyl glycine -206- CN COOH COOH OH OH OH 3-phenyl propanal cyanohydrin (R)-2-hydroxy-4-phenyl butyric acid (S)-2-hydroxy-4-phenyl butyric acid

NH

2

NH

2

NH

2 CN COOH 'N-' COOH 2-amino hexanenitrile (R)-2-amino-hexanoic acid (S)-2-amino-hexanoic acid OH OH OH ON COOH COOH CN OJ mandelonitrile (R)-mandelic acid (S)-mandelic acid OH OH OH A COOH CN COOH I O 2-pyridyl formaldehyde cyanohydrin (R)-pyridyl glycolic acid (S)-pyridyl glycolic acid 10 -207-

NH

2

NH

2

NH

2 HO CN HO COOH HO '" COOH 2-amino-6-hydroxy hexanenitrile (R)-2-amino-6-hydroxy hexanoic acid (S)--2-amina-6-hydroxy hexanoic acid CN_00R0C H(3N 0. COOH COOH

NH

2 NH2 2-amino-4,4-dimethyl pentanenitrile (R)-2-amino-4,4-dimethyl pentanoic acid (S)-2-amino-4,4-dimethyl pentanoic acid NC OH HOQ.O ROOC OH cyclohexyl mandelonitrile (S)-cyclohexyl mandelic acid (R)-cyclohexyl mandelic acid

OCR

3

NH

2

OCR

3

NH

2

OCH

3

NH

2

H

3 CO HN H 3 CO COOH H 3 CO COOH 2-amino-6,6-dimethoxy hexanenitrile (R)-2-amino-6,6-dimethoxy hexanoic acid(S)-2-amino-6,6-dimethoxy hexanoic acid CN HCOOH HCOOH H R. OH 1 A H phenyl acetaldehyde cyanohydrin (R)-phenyl lactic acid (S)-phenyl lactic acid OH OH OH NC CN NC COOH NC A, COOH hydroxyglutarylnitrile (R)-(3)-hydroxy-4-cyano-butyric acid (S)-(3)-hydroxy-4-cyano-butyric acid 5 -208- Br OH Br OH Br OH C- CN - COOH COOH 2-bromo mandelonitrile (R)-2-bromo mandelic acid (S)-2-bromo mandelic acid

CH

3 OH

CH

3 OH

CH

3 OH ON COOH I COOH 2-methyl mandelonitrile (R)-2-methyl mandelic acid (S)-2-methyl mandelic acid OH OH OH C CN Cl COOH OCOOH 3-chloro mandelonitrile (R)-3-chloro mandelic acid (S)-3-chloro mandelic acid OH OH OH Br CN t Br COOH Br COOH 3-bromo mandelonitrile (R)-3-bromo mandelic acid (S)-3-bromo mandelic acid -209- OH OH OH CN F COOH F COOH F& F ' 4-fluoro mandelonitrile (R)-4-fluoro mandelic acid (S)-4-fluoro mandelic acid OH OH OH CN COOH COOH 2-napthyl formaldehyde cyanohydrin (R)-2-napthylglycolic acid (S)-2-napthylglycolic acid OH OH OH CN COOH COOH 1-napthyl formaldehyde cyanohydrin (R)-1-napthylglycolic acid (S)-1-napthylglycolic acid OH OH OH CN COOK COOH N N N 3-pyridyl formaldehyde cyanohydrin (R)-3-pyridyl glycolic acid (S)-3-pyridyl glycolic acid OH OH OH CN IP COOH COOH r , ON ,(z 3-thienyl formaldehyde cyanohydrin (R)-3-thienyl glycolic acid (S)-3-thienyl glycolic acid -210r CN COOH COOH 0 H OHb-iK OH phenyl acetaldehyde cyanohydrin (R)-phenyl lactic acid (S)-phenyl lactic acid CN HCOOH HCOOH OHC OHC OH 2-methyl phenyl acetaldehyde cyanohydrin (R)-2-methyl phenyl lactic acid (S)-2-methyl phenyl lactic acid Br Br Br CN HCOOH COOH X OH O K OH 2-bromo phenyl acetaldehyde cyanohydrin (R)-2-bromo phenyl lactic acid (S)-2-bromo-phenyl lactic acid F F F NC N C O O H N C O O H 2-fluoro phenyl acetaldehyde cyanohydrin (R)-2-fluoro-phenyl lactic acid (S)-2-fluoro-phenyl lactic acid F N CN , F COOH F COOH xHO OH 3-fluoro phenyl acetaldehyde cyanohydrin (R)-3-fluoro-phenyl lactic acid (S)-3-fluoro-phenyl lactic acid 5 -211-

H

3 C HCN , H 3 C HCOOH H 3 C HCOOH K- ' OHK OH x H 3-methyl phenyl acetaldehyde cyanohydrin (R)-3-methyl phenyl lactic acid (S)-3-methyl-phenyl lactic acid CN COOH COOH S OH OH OH 1-napthyl acetaldehyde cyanohydrin (R)-1-napthyl lactic acid (S)-1-napthyl lactic acid CN /Z COOH HCOOH S HsOH s ON 3-thiophene acetaldehyde cyanohydrin (R)-3-thiophene lactic acid (S)-3-thiophene lactic acid - CN II>N COOH COOH OH OH OH 2-thiophene acetaldehyde cyano hydrin (R)-2-thiophene lactic acid (S)-2-thiophene lactic acid HCN HCOOH H COOH N OH :1 N - Nry OH 2-pyridine acetaldehyde cyanohydrin (R)-2-pyridine lactic acid (S)-2-pyridine lactic acid HCN HCOOH HCOOH O N H N ON ON 3-pyridine acetaldehyde cyanohydrin (R)-3-pyridine lactic acid (S)-3-pyridine lactic acid -212- Seq ID Seq ID Protein 2 DNA chloromandeli c acid Yield % ee % (enantiomer) 5 6 100% 68% R 13 14 100% 79% R 15 16 55% 81% R 33 34 95% 61% R 47 48 43% 65% R 55 56 100% 93% R 85 86 50% 52% R 261 262 100% 60% R 97 98 46% 85% R 279 280 >95% 40% R 283 284 70% 76% R 331 332 36% 79% R 291 292 54% 74% R 101 102 53% 62% R 383 384 60% 80% R 385 386 80% 97% R 303 304 >95% 51% R 139 140 60% 85% R 167 168 100% 88% R 169 170 72% 85% R -213- 185 186 44% 79% R 187 188 60% 78% R 197 198 100% 87% R 217 218 72% 82% R Seq ID Seq ID Protein 4-bromo DNA mandelic acid Yield % ee % (enantiome r) 3 4 12% 92% R 5 6 54% 78% R 333 334 48% 93% R 13 14 55% 89% R 15 16 57% 92% R 19 20 60% 92% R 29 30 58% 93% R 33 34 52% 49% R 47 48 60% 92% R 55 56 56% 94% R 57 58 60% 81% R 85 86 41% 84% R 261 262 48% 94% R 267 268 43% 94% R 97 98 53% 91% R -214- 275 276 37% 42% R 279 280 59% 2% R 283 284 49% 94% R 331 332 42% 89% R 291 292 47% 94% R 101 102 68% 77% R 383 384 67% 65% R 385 386 66% 99% R 303 304 44% 6% R 139 140 61% 95% R 145 146 65% 89% R 167 168 54% 92% R 169 170 53% 64% R 185 186 56% 94% R 187 188 56% 59% R 189 190 59% 6% R 197 198 56% 85% R 215 216 44% 65% R 217 218 57% 96% R 221 222 56% 55% R 223 224 91% 1%S 231 232 8% 94% R 249 250 55% 89% R -215- Seq ID Seq ID Protein phenyl DNA glycine Yield % ee % (enantiome r) 5 6 80% 10% R 15 16 >90% no specificity 29 30 80- < 20% R 100% 47 48 40-50% <25% R 55 56 >90% <20%R 57 58 60% 40% R 85 86 70% 32% R 101 102 100% <20% R 383 384 75% 62% R 385 386 71% 45% R 139 140 100% <20% R 167 168 >90% <20% R 169 170 89-90% <20% R 185 186 -80% -25% R 187 188 84% racemic 189 190 -90% <10% R 197 198 >90% 88% R 215 216 10-20% < 20% R 217 218 52% 86% R 221 222 20% R-selective -216- 1231 '232 20% 80%R Seq ID Seq ID Protein phenyl DNA methyl glycine Yield % ee % (enantiomer) 189 190 52% 45% R Seq ID Seq ID Protein 4 DNA fluorophenylglyci ne Yield % ee % (enantiomer) 5 6 54% 3% R 333 334 53% 2.5% R 13 14 56% 2.1% R 33 34 52.30% 6.9% R 261 262 54% 4.5% R 267 268 44% 22% R 97 98 55% 2.1% R 279 280 55% 7.5% S 283 284 45% 0.2% R 291 292 54% 0.3% R 303 304 55% 3%S -217- Seq ID Seq ID Protein 2-amino-6 DNA hydroxy hexanoic acid Yield % ee % (enantiomer) 5 6 24% 86%S 333 334 21% 85%S 13 14 16% 90%S 15 16 <10% activity observed 29 30 8% 78%S 55 56 80% 55% S 261 262 11% 79%S 361 362 6% 72% R 267 267 25% 90% S 97 98 14% 88%S 279 280 35% 93%S 283 284 14% 85%S 343 344 19% 67% R 101 102 9% 83%S 103 104 30% 91%S 303 304 34% 91%S 145 146 20% 85%S 167 168 35% 54%S 185 186 13% 86%S 187 188 50% 60%S -218- 189 190 5% 62%S 197 198 12% 88%S 217 218 100% 52%S 221 222 32% 79%S 249 250 8% 87% S Seq ID Seq ID Protein 2-amino-4,4 DNA dimethyl pentanoic acid Yield % ee % (enantiomer) 55 56 -40% <20% S 59 60 30% >95% S 267 268 25% 90% S 103 104 30% 91%S 167 168 -40% <20% S 221 222 32% 79% S Seq ID Seq ID Protein phenyl DNA lactic acid Yield % ee % (enantiomer ) 321 322 33% 56%S 23 24 20% 5%S -219- 31 32 36% 68% R 39 40 17% 5%S 293 294 100% 65% S 41 42 35% 45% R 43 44 40% 85% S 49 50 75% 66% S 61 62 56% 80%S 73 74 100% 5% R 259 260 95% 33%S 335 336 96% 62%S 83 84 100% 49%S 93 94 80% 50% S 95 96 57% 60% R 271 272 75% 60% R 273 274 100% 45%S 275 276 20% 3% S 99 100 90% 82%S 107 108 80% 40%S 109 110 80% 60%S 115 116 60% 63%S 117 118 20% 4%S 125 126 20% 6%S 127 128 20% 8%S 129 130 20% 9%S -220- 133 134 30% 8%S 135 136 30% 7%S 113 114 20% 20%S 161 162 70% 66%S 171 172 52% 60% R 173 174 20% 83%S 175 176 87% 45%S 183 184 50% 57%S 189 190 20% 8%S 195 196 89% 89%S 205 206 90% 73% S 207 208 76% 85% S 209 210 98% 75%S 213 214 70% 86%S 227 228 99% 31%S 239 240 22% 100% R 241 242 40% 62% R Seq ID Seq ID Protein Cyclohexylmande DNA lic acid Yield % ee % (enantiomer) 17 18 60% Not determined 321 322 70% Not determined 49 50 70% Not determined 61 62 70% Not determined -221- 105 106 >90% Not determined 115 116 70% Not determined 195 196 55% Not determined 213 214 65% Not determined 237 238 60% Not determined Seq ID Seq ID Protein mandelic DNA acid EE % YlELD % (enantiome r) 3 4 1s 22 5 6 97R 100 333 334 93 R 100 9 10 8 R 21 13 14 98 R 100 15 16 96 R 100 29 30 99 R 100 33 34 95 R 100 35 36 3S 15 39 40 35S 14 47 48 97 R 100 -222- 55 56 99 R 100 57 58 96 R 100 75 76 52 R 56 257 258 26S 12 81 82 16S 23 259 260 47S 15 83 84 46S 14 85 86 83R 20 261 262 88 R 100 361 362 14S 22 267 268 96 R 100 97 98 99 R 100 277 278 41 R 13 279 280 28 R 100 283 284 94 R 100 331 332 87S 100 299 300 68S 12 351 352 89 R 100 317 318 55S 14 343 344 21 S 49 -223- 291 292 81 R 100 287 288 8S 22 383 384 80 R 100 119 120 31 R 14 385 386 99 R 100 303 304 45 R 100 139 140 97 R 100 145 146 95 R 100 167 168 99 R 100 169 170 99 R 100 185 186 99 R 100 187 188 99 R 100 189 190 9 R 100 197 198 99 R 100 209 210 15S 9 215 216 88 R 100 217 218 98 R 100 -224- 221 222 85 R 58 225 226 36S 14 231 232 91 R 100 235 236 87 S 22 237 238 18S 8 239 240 35S 16 249 250 98 R 100 NOTES Seq ID Seq ID Protein 3-hydroxy-4 DNA cyanobutyric acid EE % YIELD % (enantiomer) 1 2 not determined activity observed 3 4 4 S activity observed 7 8 6 S activity observed 333 334 6 S activity observed 9 10 16S activity observed 11 12 8R 104 15 16 not determined activity observed 17 18 16 R activity observed -225- 19 20 7 R activity observed 21 22 6 S activity observed 321 322 51 R activity observed 25 26 19S activity observed 27 28 6 S activity observed 27 28 100S 111 29 30. 16R 100 31 32 54R 127 33 34 12 S activity observed 35 36 100S 35 37 38 100S 87 39 40 24S activity observed 293 294 12S 91 255 256 65S activity observed 41 42 100 R 16 43 44 not determined activity observed -226- 47 48 389 96 49 50 52 S activity observed 55 56 92R 122 57 58 100S 73 59 60 100S 100 61 62 18 R activity observed 63 64 IOR 9 69 70 2 S activity observed 71 72 not determined activity observed 73 74 100S 3 325 326 73 R 4 77 78 100 S activity observed 257 258 3R activity observed 259 260 55 S activity observed 83 84 34 S activity observed 261 262 22 R activity observed 361 362 4 S activity observed -227- 89 90 31 R 116 297 298 24 R activity observed 91 92 6 s activity observed 267 268 not determined activity observed 93 9 58S activity observed 5 26 2 R activity observed 97 98 17 R activity observed 275 27 n6 80S activity observed 27 280 9 s activity observed 3813 282 not determined activity observed 83 24 23 R activity observed 309 310 12 S activity observed 291 252 13S activity observed 289 3 2828 activity observed 291 22 13 -S activity observed 287 288100 S activity - 8-7 8 -8observed -228- 99 100 100S activity observed 101 102 80S 61 383 384 8 R activity observed 103 104 100 R 98 105 106 13S activity observed 107 108 100S 79 109 110 100S 79 111 112 91 S 32 113 114 100S activity observed 115 116 66S activity observed 117 118 22 R activity observed Different 119 120 13S activity subclone observed Different 119 120 100 S activity subclone observed 123 124 20S activity observed 385 386 13 S activity observed 125 126 25S activity observed -229- 127 128 92S 106 129 130 100S 22 131 132 100S activity observed 133 134 86S 14 135 136 22S activity observed 139 140 16S activity observed 113 114 100S 108 143 144 100S activity observed 145 146 100S 100 149 150 3.2S activity observed 151 152 8 R activity observed 153 154 35S 39 155 156 100S activity observed 157 158 26 R activity observed 159 160 100S 71 161 162 64 R 122 -230- 163 164 loS activity observed 167 168 1OR 106 169 170 14 R 38 171 172 27 R 33 173 174 20 R activity observed 175 176 318 58 177 178 100s 11 179 180 100S 75 181 182 100S 58 183 184 100S 19 185 186 100S 78 187 188 7S activity observed 189 190 5 S 104 193 194 7 S activity observed 195 196 95 R 100 197 198 100S 64 -231- 201 202 100S 132 253 254 4 S activity observed 203 204 not determined activity observed 205 206 64 R activity observed 207 208 95 R 100 209 210 95 R 100 213 214 25 R activity observed 215 216 100S activity observed 217 218 11s 109 219 220 not determined activity observed 221 222 26 R 100 223 224 5 S activity observed 227 228 52 S activity observed Clone 229 230 31 S activity observed Subclone 229 230 100S activity observed 231 232 100S activity observed -232- 233 234 35 S activity observed 235 236 6 S activity observed 237 238 95 R 100 239 240 not determined activity observed 241 242 9 R activity observed 243 244 100 S activity observed 245 246 5 S activity observed 247 248 not determined activity observed 249 250 21 S 98 251 252 5 S activity observed The indications of subclones and clones refer to subclones of the originally isolated nucleic acid of the respective SEQ ID NO. Seq ID Seq ID Protein 2-bromo DNA mandeli c acid EE% YIELD (enantiome % r) 5 6 82R 63 97 98 95 R 100 -233- 101 102 92 R 92 385 386 96 R 100 185 186 92 R 90 187 188 90 R 100 197 198 93 R 74 217 218 90 R 100 235 236 91 R 30 Seq ID Seq ID Protein 2-methyl DNA mandelic acid EE %VC YIELD % (enantiome r) 5 6 85 R 100 55 56 90 R 100 97 98 93 R 100 383 384 97 R 100 385 386 97 R 100 139 140 88 R 100 145 146 93 R 100 167 168 85 R 100 185 186 931R 95 187 188 96 R 100 197 198 86 R 100 217 218 80 R 100 217 F 2-234- Seq ID Protein 3-chloro mandeli c acid EE % YIELD (enantiome % r) 386 98 R 100 Seq ID Seq ID Protein 3-bromo DNA mandeli c acid EE % YIELD (enantiome % r) 385 386 99 R 100 Seq ID Seq ID Protein 4 DNA fluoromandel ic acid EE % YIELD % (enantiome r) 5 6 82R 50 15 16 92 R 45 55 56 97 R 45 85 86 97 R 40 97 98 98 R 45 101 102 95 R 50 385 386 99 R 100 167 168 97 R 50 -235- 185 186 97 R 50 187 188 95 R 50 197 198 79 R 45 215 216 89 R 40 217 218 98 R 50 221 222 68 R 45 Seq ID Seq ID Protein 2 DNA napthyl glycolic acid EE"%o YlELD (enantiome % r) 13 14 95 R 85 97 98 93 R 40 101 102 96R 100 383 384 98 R- 100 85 386 98 R 100 125 126 95-R 20 127 128 75 R 4 133 134 97 R 20 145 146 96R 100 169 170 97 R 1000 187 188 95 R 100 201 20 2 98 R 9 -236- Seq ID Seq ID Protein 1 DNA napthyl glycolic acid EE % YIELD (enantiomer % 13 14 82 R 100 97 98 84 R 100 101 102 69 R 100 383 384 46 R 100 385 386 95 R 100 125 126 83 R 16 127 128 33 R 13 133 134 42 R 16 145 146 69 R 100 169 170 62 R 100 187 188 55 R 100 201 202 59 R 15 Seq ID Seq ID Protein 3-pyridyl DNA glycolic acid EE % YIELD (enantiome % r) 5 6 94FR 100 13 14 94 R 100 29 30 95 R 95 -237- 47 48 95 R 100 55 56 92 R 85 57 58 95R 100 97 98 96 R 100 383 384 95 R 100 385 386 96 R 100 139 140 90 R 100 145 146 89R 100 167 168 94 R 100 169 170 91 R 70 185 186 93 R 90 187 188 95 R 100 197 198 93 R 100 217 218 94 R 100 249 250 94 R 90 Seq ID Seq ID Protein 3 DNA thienylglycoli c acid EE % YIELD % (enantiome r) 385 386 95 R 100 Seq ID Seq ID Protein 2 DNA pyridyl glycolic acid -238- EE % YIELD (enantiomer % ) 385 386 95 R 100 NOTES Seq ID Seq ID Protein 2-hydroxy DNA 4-phenyl butyric acid EE % YIELD % (enantiome r) 1 2 66S 92 3 4 82S 12 5 6 85S 100 7 8 81 S 13 333 334 85S 100 9 10 88S 13 13 14 82S 100 15 16 72S 22 17 18 67S 100 19 20 90S 81 21 22 69S 32 321 322 66S 100 23 24 71S 27 25 26 69S 70 27 28 72S 20 29 30 91 S 100 -239- 31 32 13S 100 33 34 83S 38 35 36 69S 26 37 38 66S 76 39 40 3S 110 293 294 not 100 determined 307 308 56 S 54 255 256 74 S 27 41 42 82S 100 43 44 41S 100 45 46 85S 17 47 48 87S 76 49 50 73S 17 51 52 70S 100 53 54 84S 12 55 56 84S 100 57 58 91 S 100 59 60 56S 100 61 62 72S 65 63 64 87S 20 359 360 63 S 79 67 68 82S 19 69 70 66S 72 71 72 83S 13 -240- 73 74 75S 26 325 326 87S 12 75 76 39S 42 77 78 85S 23 79 80 85S 14 257 258 51 S 71 81 82 73S 51 259 260 51 S 46 335 336 65 S 69 83 84 86S 10 85 86 66S 20 261 262 77S 100 87 88 90S 16 361 362 67S .76 89 90 44S 47 297 298 69S 100 91 92 65S 81 267 268 72S 100 93 94 90S 17 95 96 66S 22 271 272 53S 38 97 98 93S 100 273 274 84 S 22 275 276 5S 100 -241- 277 278 84S 20 279 280 75S 100 281 282 65S 91 283 284 88S 100 331 332 21 S 100 311 312 50S 32 313 314 88S 100 323 324 67S 31 329 330 62 S 77 289 290 58 S 70 299 300 71 S 33 351 352 54S 80 317 318 57S 18 309 310 58S 100 343 344 20S 100 291 292 73S 27 287 288 41 S 52 99 100 87S 14 101 102 86S 100 383 384 70S 69 103 104 79S 100 105 106 92S 74 107 108 87S 14 109 110 64S 76 -242- 111 112 67S 81 113 114 63S 79 115 116 86S 34 117 118 80S 21 Different 119 120 87S 9 subclone Different 119 120 7S 100 subclone 121 122 74S 21 123 124 86S 12 385 386 63S 58 125 126 86S 23 303 304 68S 100 127 128 73S 25 129 130 75S 24 131 132 76S 22 133 134 88S 18 135 136 65S 91 113 114 87S 20 143 144 60S 47 145 146 74S 34 149 150 75S 100 151 152 74S 31 153 154 69S 100 155 156 69S 74 -243- 157 158 62S 100 159 160 9s 100 163 164 87S 21 Different 165 166 76S 31 subclone Different 165 166 59S 100 subclone 167 168 80S 100 169 170 84S 23 171 172 8S 100 173 174 78S 67 175 176 84S 23 177 178 100S 88 179 180 163 100 183 184 76S 100 185 186 87S 100 187 188 80S 100 193 194 71 S 9 195 196 51 S 100 197 198 73S 100 201 202 57S 100 253 254 70S 32 205 206 83S 21 209 210 72S 70 215 216 84S 19 -244- 217- 218 91 S 100 219 220 65S 93 221 222 54S 100 223 224 69S 37 225 226 82S 15 227 228 83 S 23 Clone 229 230 78 S 20 Subclone 229 230 74S 100 231 232 81 S 21 233 234 84S 19 235 236 61 S 82 237 238 51 S 90 239 240 89S 16 241 242 24S 66 243 244 88S 16 245 246 74 S 23 247 248 72S 78 249 250 93S 100 251 252 71S 17 Seq ID Seq ID 2-amino hexanoic acid DNA Protei n Yield EE % (enantiome r) -245- 5 6 27% 11% R 7 8 9% 45%S 333 334 36% 21% R 11 12 9% 58%S 13 14 23% 3%S 293 294 28% 9% R 47 48 20% 15%S 55 56 27% 14% R 61 62 9% 46%S 261 262 17% 39%S 267 268 11% 83%S 97 98 21% 15%S 283 284 29% 20% R 343 344 21% 79% R 101 102 26% 1%R 103 104 8% 91%S 385 386 20% 24% R 303 304 24% 13%S 145 146 29% 10% R 159 160 14% 40%S 167 168 21% 16%S 169 170 12% 53%S 185 186 37% 29%S 187 188 25% 13% R -246- 189 190 14% 68% S 197 198 28% 21% R 217 218 22% 13% R 221 222 17% 54%S 249 250 20% 29%S While the invention has been described in detail with reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood that modifications and variations are within the spirit and scope of that which is described and claimed. 5 As used herein, the term "comprise" and variations of the term, such as "comprising", "comprises" and "comprised", are not intended to exclude other additives, components, integers or steps. Reference to any prior art in the specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgment, or any form of suggestion, that this prior art forms part of the common general 10 knowledge in Australia or any other jurisdiction or that this prior art could reasonably be expected to be ascertained, understood and regarded as relevant by a person skilled in the art. - 247 -

Claims (37)

1. An isolated, recombinant or synthetic nucleic acid comprising: (a) a sequence comprising consecutive nucleotides having a sequence at least 90% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 385; 5 (b) a sequence that hybridizes under stringent hybridization conditions to SEQ ID NO: 385, wherein the stringent hybridization conditions comprise a buffer comprising at least 50% formamide, and conditions comprising about 37'C to about 42'C; (c) a sequence encoding SEQ ID NO:386, or enzymatically active fragments thereof; 10 or (d) a sequence completely complementary to the sequence of (a), (b) or (c), wherein the nucleic acid of (a), (b) or (c) encodes a polypeptide having nitrilase activity.

2. A nucleic acid probe comprising from 18 nucleotides to 50 consecutive nucleotides of a sequence as set forth in claim 1. 15

3. A nucleic acid vector capable of replication in a host cell, wherein the vector comprises the nucleic acid of claim 1.

4. A host cell comprising the vector of claim 3 or nucleic acid of claim 1.

5. A host organism comprising the host cell of claim 4, or the vector of claim 3 or nucleic acid of claim 1, wherein the host organism comprises a gram negative bacteria, a gram 20 positive bacteria or a eukaryotic organism.

6. The isolated nucleic acid of claim 1, wherein the nucleic acid is affixed to a solid support, wherein the solid support is selected from the group of a gel, a resin, a polymer, a ceramic, a glass, a microelectrode and any combination thereof.

7. An isolated, recombinant or synthetic polypeptide comprising: 25 (a) consecutive amino acids having a sequence at least 90% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 386, 248 (b) a polypeptide encoded by a sequence of claim 1(a) or 1(b), wherein the polypeptide has nitrilase activity.

8. A peptidomimetic of the polypeptide of claim 7 having nitrilase activity.

9. The polypeptide of claim 7, or a peptidomimetic thereof having nitrilase activity, affixed 5 to a solid support, wherein the solid support comprises a gel, a resin, a polymer, a ceramic, a glass, a microelectrode or any combination thereof.

10. A purified, recombinant or synthetic antibody that specifically binds to the polypeptide of claim 7, or a fragment thereof that specifically binds to the polypeptide of claim 7.

11. An enzyme preparation which comprises at least one of the polypeptides of claim 7, 10 wherein the preparation is liquid or dry.

12. A composition which comprises at least one nucleic acid of claim 1, at least one polypeptide of claim 7, or a peptidomimetic of claim 8, or an antibody of claim 10, or any combination thereof.

13. A method for hydrolyzing a nitrile to a carboxylic acid comprising contacting the 15 molecule with at least one polypeptide of claim 7, or a peptidomimetic of claim 8, under conditions suitable for nitrilase activity.

14. A method for hydrolyzing a cyanohydrin moiety or an aminonitrile moiety of a molecule, the method comprising contacting the molecule with at least one polypeptide of claim 7, or a peptidomimetic of claim 8, under conditions suitable for nitrilase activity. 20

15. A method for making a chiral alpha-hydroxy acid molecule or a chiral amino acid molecule, the method comprising admixing a molecule having a cyanohydrin moiety or an aminonitrile moiety with at least one polypeptide of claim 7, or a peptidomimetic of claim 8, having enantio-selective nitrilase activity, wherein optionally the chiral molecule is an (S)-enantiomer or an (R)-enantiomer. 25

16. A method for making a composition or an intermediate thereof, the method comprising admixing a precursor of the composition or intermediate, wherein the precursor comprises a cyanohydrin moiety or an aminonitrile moiety, with at least one polypeptide of claim 7, or peptidomimetic of claim 8 having nitrilase activity, hydrolyzing the 249 cyanohydrin or the aminonitrile moiety in the precursor thereby making the composition or the intermediate thereof, wherein the composition or intermediate thereof comprises (S)-2-amino-4-phenyl butanoic acid, an L-amino acid, or a food additive or a pharmaceutical drug. 5

17. A method for making an (R)-ethyl 4-cyano-3-hydroxybutyric acid, the method comprising contacting a hydroxyglutaryl nitrile with at least one polypeptide of claim 7 having nitrilase activity, that selectively produces an (R)-enantiomer, so as to make (R) ethyl 4-cyano-3 hydroxybutyric acid.

18. A method for making an (S)-ethyl 4-cyano-3-hydroxybutyric acid, the method 10 comprising contacting a hydroxyglutaryl nitrile with at least one polypeptide of claim 7, or peptidomimetic of claim 8 having nitrilase activity that selectively produces an (S) enantiomer, so as to make (S)-ethyl 4-cyano-3-hydroxybutyric acid.

19. A method for making an (R)-mandelic acid, the method comprising admixing a mandelonitrile with at least one polypeptide of claim 7, or peptidomimetic of claim 8 15 having nitrilase activity, wherein the (R)-mandelic acid comprises (R)-2-chloromandelic acid, or an aromatic ring substitution in the ortho-, meta-, or para- positions, a l-naphthyl derivative of (R)-mandelic acid, a pyridyl derivative of (R)-mandelic acid or a thienyl derivative of (R)-mandelic acid or a combination thereof.

20. A method for making an (S)-mandelic acid, the method comprising admixing a 20 mandelonitrile with at least one polypeptide of claim 7 or peptidomimetic of claim 8 having nitrilase activity, wherein the (S)-mandelic acid comprises (S)-methyl benzyl cyanide and the mandelonitrile comprises (S)-methoxy-benzyl cyanide, or the (S)-mandelic acid comprises an aromatic ring substitution in the ortho-, meta-, or 25 para- positions, a 1-naphthyl derivative of (S)-mandelic acid, a pyridyl derivative of (S) mandelic acid or a thienyl derivative of (S)-mandelic acid or a combination thereof.

21. A method for making an (S)-phenyl lactic acid derivative or an (R)-phenyl lactic acid derivative, the method comprising admixing a phenyllactocyanonitrile with at least one polypeptide of claim 7 or peptidomimetic of claim 8 that selectively produces an (S) 250 enantiomer or an (R)-enantiomer, thereby producing an (S)-phenyl lactic acid derivative or an (R) phenyl lactic acid derivative.

22. A method for making the polypeptide of claim 7, the method comprising: (a) introducing a nucleic acid encoding the polypeptide into a host cell under 5 conditions that permit production of the polypeptide by the host cell, and (b) recovering the polypeptide so produced.

23. A method for generating a nucleic acid variant encoding a polypeptide having nitrilase activity, wherein the variant has an altered biological activity from that which naturally occurs, the method comprising modifying the nucleic acid of claim 1 by 10 (i) substituting one or more nucleotides for a different nucleotide, wherein the nucleotide comprises a natural or non-natural nucleotide; (ii) deleting one or more nucleotides, (iii) adding one or more nucleotides, or (iv) any combination thereof, 15 wherein optionally the non-natural nucleotide comprises inosine.

24. A screening assay for identifying a nitrilase, the assay comprising: (a) providing a plurality of nucleic acids or polypeptides comprising at least one of the nucleic acids of claim 1, or at least one of the polypeptides of claim 7; (b) obtaining polypeptide candidates to be tested for nitrilase activity from the 20 plurality; (c) testing the candidates for nitrilase activity; and (d) identifying those polypeptide candidates which are nitrilases, wherein at least one of the nucleic acids or polypeptides is modified prior to testing the candidates for nitrilase activity, 251 and optionally the testing of step (c) further comprises testing for improved expression of the polypeptide in a host cell or host organism, and the testing of step (c) further comprises testing for nitrilase activity which results in an enantioselective reaction product, or a regio-selective reaction product. 5

25. Use of the nucleic acid of claim 1, in a process designed to optimize an aspect of the gene or an aspect of the polypeptide encoded by the gene, wherein the process comprises introducing modifications into the nucleotide sequence of the nucleic acid, and optionally the modifications are introduced by PCR, error-prone PCR, shuffling, oligonucleotide directed mutagenesis, assembly PCR, sexual PCR mutagenesis, in vivo mutagenesis, 10 cassette mutagenesis, recursive ensemble mutagenesis, exponential ensemble mutagenesis, site-specific mutagenesis, gene reassembly, gene site saturated mutagenesis, ligase chain reaction, in vitro mutagenesis, ligase chain reaction or any combination thereof, and optionally the process is repeated.

26. Use of the polypeptide of claim 7, or peptidomimetic of claim 8 in an industrial process, 15 wherein the process is for production of a pharmaceutical composition, or for production of.a chemical, or for production of a food additive, or for catalyzing the breakdown of waste, or wherein the process is production of a drug intermediate, or wherein the process comprises use of the polypeptide to hydrolyze a hydroxyglutarylnitrile substrate, wherein optionally hydrolysis of the 20 hydroxyglutarylnitrile substrate results in production of atorvastatin, or wherein the process is production of a detergent or a food product, and optionally hydrolysis of the substrate having a cyanohydrin moiety or an aminonitrile moiety and generation of the composition comprising alpha-hydroxy acid or amino acid results in production of the detergent or food product. 25

27. Use of a nucleic acid of claim 1, in the preparation of a transgenic organism.

28. A kit comprising (i) (a) the nucleic acid of claim 1, or (b) the polypeptide of claim 7, or (c) a peptidomimetic of claim 8, or (d) a combination thereof; and (ii) a buffer.

29. A method for modifying a molecule comprising: 252 (a) mixing a polypeptide of claim 7 or peptidomimetic of claim 8 having nitrilase activity, with a starting molecule to produce a reaction mixture; (b) reacting the starting molecule with the polypeptide to produce the modified molecule. 5

30. A method for identifying a modified compound comprising: (a) admixing a polypeptide of claim 7 or peptidomimetic of claim 8 having nitrilase activity, with a starting compound to produce a reaction mixture and thereafter a library of modified starting compounds; (b) testing the library to determine whether a modified starting compound is present 10 within the library which exhibits a desired activity; (c) identifying the modified compound exhibiting the desired activity.

31. An assay for identifying a functional fragment of a polypeptide which comprises: (a) obtaining a fragment of at least one polypeptide of claim 7; (b) contacting at least one fragment from step (a) with a substrate having a 15 cyanohydrin moiety or an aminonitrile moiety under reaction conditions suitable for nitrilase activity; (c) measuring the amount of reaction product produced by each at least one fragment from step (b); and (d) identifying the at least one fragment which is capable of producing a nitrilase 20 reaction product; thereby identifying a functional fragment of the polypeptide, wherein the fragment of step (a) is obtained by synthesizing the fragment, or the fragment of step (a) is obtained by fragmenting the polypeptides.

32. An assay for identifying a functional variant of a polypeptide which comprises: (a) obtaining at least one variant of at least one polypeptide of claim 7; 253 (b) contacting at least one variant from step (a) with a substrate having a cyanohydrin moiety or an aminonitrile moiety under reaction conditions suitable for nitrilase activity; (c) measuring the amount of reaction product produced by each at least one variant 5 from step (b); and (d) identifying the at least one variant which is capable of producing a nitrilase reaction product; thereby identifying a functional variant of the polypeptide.

33. A probe according to claim 2 comprising at least 20 consecutive nucleotides of a sequence set forth in claim 1. 10

34. The host organism according to claim 5 in which the gram negative bacteria is Escherichia coli, or Pseudomonasfluorescens, the gram positive bacteria is Streptomyces diversa, Lactobacillus gasseri, Lactococcus lactis, Lactococcus cremoris, or Bacillus subtilis, and the eukaryotic organism is Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Schizosaccharomyces pombe, Pichia pastoris, Kluyveromyces lactis, Hansenula plymorpha, or Aspergillus 15 niger.

35. An isolated, recombinant synthetic nucleic acid comprising SEQ ID NO: 385 that encodes a polypeptide having nitrilase activity substantially as described herein.

36. An isolated, recombinant or synthetic polypeptide comprising SEQ ID NO: 386 having nitrilase activity substantially as described herein. 20

37. A peptidomimetic of a polypeptide according to claim 36 substantially as described herein. 254