Nitrile hydratases (EC 4.2.1.84) catalyze regio- and stereo-selective conversion of a wide range of nitriles to corresponding amides (see Reaction Scheme and Examples). The transformation acts through tightly bound metal cations, mostly a cobalt or an iron, to cysteine residues and other ligands. A number of industrial processes have been developed using nitrile hydratases (see References).

Reaction Scheme and Examples:

Selected References:

1. DiCosimo, R.  “Nitrilases and nitrile hydratases in Biocatalysis in the Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology Industries”, 2007, pp 1-26, Ed. Patel, R., CRC. 

2. Shi, Y.; Yu, H.; Sun, X.; Tian, Z.; Shen, Z.   “Cloning of the nitrile hydratase gene from Nocardia sp. in Escherichia coli and Pichia pastoris and its functional expression using site-directed mutagenesis”,    Enzyme and Microbial Technology, 2004, 35, 557-562. 

3. Cowan, D. A.; Cameron, R. A.; Tsekoa, T. L. “Comparative biology of mesophilic and thermophilic  nitrile  hydratases”, Advances in Applied Microbiology, 2003, 52, 123-158.