| abstract |
In a process for the production of a D- alpha -amino acid, in which an N-carbamyl-D- alpha -amino acid corresponding to the general formula: <IMAGE>d phenyl, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, or thienyl, is converted by a microbial enzyme in an aqueous medium to a D- alpha -amino acid corresponding to the general formula: <IMAGE> wherein R is the same as defined above, decarbamylase produced by a microorganism of the genus Comamonas, Blastobacter, Alcaligenes, Sporosarcina, Rhizobium, Bradyrhizobium or Arthrobacter is used as the enzyme converting the N-carbamyl-D- alpha -amino acid to the D- alpha -amino acid. The conversion of the N-carbamyl-D- alpha -amino acids to the D- alpha -amino acids is carried out in a neutral to alkaline pH range. |