An isolated esterase gene coding for an esterase capable of causing
asymmetric hydrolysis of an organic carboxylic acid ester of a
cyclopentenolone of formula I:
##STR1##
wherein R.sub.1 is hydrogen or methyl, and R.sub.2 is C.sub.1 -C.sub.10
alkyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.10 alkenyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.10 alkynyl, C.sub.1
-C.sub.4 haloalkyl, a C.sub.5 -C.sub.9 aliphatic hydrocarbon moiety which
may be optionally protected on the terminal hydroxyl group thereof, or a
C.sub.5 -C.sub.9 fatty acid residue which may be optionally protected on
the terminal carboxyl group thereof, to produce the cyclopentenolone of
formula I in (R)-form, and hybridizing to the base sequence of SEQ ID
NO:1, is useful for the industrially favorable production of optically
active cyclopentenolones of formula I which serve as the intermediates of
drugs, agricultural chemicals or other active products.