The present disclosure relates to a novel O-acetylhomoserine sulfhydrylase variant, a polynucleotide encoding the same, a vector comprising the polynucleotide, a strain capable of expressing the variant, and a method for producing L-methionine using the variant.

The present invention relates to a method for producing L-methionine in which a microorganism is cultured in the presence of L-homoserine and methyl mercaptan, a salt of the same or dimethyl disulfide whereby the L-methionine is accumulated in the culture medium.

Provided is a process for the preparation of L-methionine in an enzymatic reaction utilizing dimethyl disulfide (DMDS) a precursor of L-methionine, and an organic reducing compound. In the process, methyl mercaptan can be formed by the enzymatic hydrogenolysis of the DMDS.

Provided is an enzymatic process for preparing L-methionine from diethyl disulfide.

The present invention relates to a recombinant microorganism useful for the production of L-methionine and process for the preparation of L-methionine. The microorganism of the invention is modified in a way that the L-methionine production is improved by using a thiocarboxylated protein as sulfur donor and by expressing an enzyme having homoserine O-acetyltransferase activity without feedback inhibition by methionine and/or S-adenosylmethionine and an enzyme having O-acetylhomoserine sulfhydrylase activity.

An enzymatically catalyzed method for producing L-glufosinate or a phosphoester of L-glufosinate can be performed. An activated L-homoserine H.sub.A is reacted with a substrate S selected from methylphosphinic acid and the esters of methylphosphinic acid. The method makes accessible new substrates in the enzymatic production of L-glufosinate and its phosphoesters.

The present invention relates to an enzymatically catalyzed method for producing L-glufosinate or a phosphoester thereof. The method includes reacting an activated L-homoserine H.sub.A with a substrate S selected from methylphosphinic acid and esters thereof. Sulfhydrylase enzyme E.sub.1 is used for the enzymatic catalysis. The invention makes accessible new substrates for the enzymatic production of L-glufosinate and its phosphoesters.