The group of Yasuhisa ASANO at Toyama Prefectural University has cloned and characterized a hydroxynitril lyase from the millipede Chamberlinus hualienensis. The insect uses this enzyme for chemo-protection against predators producing HCN. The R-specific enzyme has excellent stability up to 70 °C, a wide range of pH and can be used to prepare R-mandelonitrile from benzaldehyde with 95 % ee in hiyh yields.

JSBBA Sapporo, poster 3D049, March 29, 2016