Preparation of (2R,3S)-β-hydroxy-α-amino acids by use of a novel Streptomyces aldolase as a resolving agent for racemic material

A unique aldolase, which was isolated from Streptomyces amakusaensis, is used to catalyse a reverse aldol reaction on representative racemic beta-hydroxy-alpha-amino acids (3-6) to give samples of the (2R,3S)-(D-threo)-enantiomers with excellent enantiomeric purity.