Batch-feeding whole-cell catalytic synthesis of α-arbutin by amylosucrase from Xanthomonas campestris

α-Arbutin is an effective skin-whitening cosmetic ingredient and can be synthesized through hydroquinone glycosylation. In this study, amylosucrase (Amy-1) from Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris 8004 was newly identified as a sucrose-utilizing glycosylating hydroquinone enzyme. Its kinetic parameters showed a seven-time higher affinity to hydroquinone than maltose-utilizing α-glycosidase. The glycosylation of HQ can be quickly achieved with over 99% conversion when a high molar ratio of glycoside donor to acceptor (80:1) was used. A batch-feeding catalysis method was designed to eliminate HQ inhibition with high productivity (> 36.4 mM h−1). Besides, to eliminate the serious inhibition caused by the accumulated hydroquinone oxidation products, the whole-cell catalysis was further proposed. 306 mM of α-arbutin was finally achieved with 95% molar conversion rate within 15 h. Hence, the batch-feeding whole-cell biocatalysis by Amy-1 is a promising technology for α-arbutin production with enhanced yield and molar conversion rate.