The artificial sweetener, aspartame, is enzymatically produced using
The artificial sweetener, aspartame, is enzymatically produced using
Select an option to attempt
Correct Answer: Option B
Explanation
Aspartame (-L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine-1-methyl ester) is an artificial sweetener ~200× sweeter than sucrose. Chemical production: N-protected (e.g. Z-Asp or Cbz-Asp) aspartic acid + L-phenylalanine methyl ester (L-PheOMe), coupled by Thermolysin. Thermolysin (EC 3.4.24.27) is a thermostable zinc-metalloendoprotease from Bacillus thermoproteolyticus that exhibits remarkable synthetic (condensation) activity in organic solvents or biphasic systems. Advantages: (1) Excellent stereoselectivity — produces ONLY the L-L stereoisomer (the sweet one; L-D and D-L isomers are bitter/tasteless); (2) Thermostability; (3) No unwanted side reactions. Rennin (chymosin) — milk coagulation;-galactosidase — lactose hydrolysis; Lipase — fat hydrolysis.