Characterization of a novel marine microbial esterase and its use to make D-methyl lactate

A novel marine microbial esterase PHE14 identified from the Western Pacific Ocean was functionally characterized and used as a green biocatalyst in the enzymatic preparation of D-methyl lactate, a key chiral chemical, with high enantiomeric excess (ee > 99%) and high yield (> 88%) through kinetic resolutions.