Utilization of nitriles and amides by Rhodococcus erythropolis strain

The influence of a number of nitriles and amides on the growth and the catalytic activity of Rhodococcus erythropolis strain E84 - producer of nitrile hydratase has been examined. It was shown that saturated nonsubstituted aliphatic nitriles and amides were efficient sources of carbon and nitrogen, but their presence in cultivation edium did not appear to be strict condition for the manifestation of nitrile hydratase activity. Nitrile hydratase of strain E84 was able to hydrolyze aliphatic, and to a lesser extent, aromatic nitriles.