title: Microbial aldolases and transketolases: new biocatalytic approaches to simple and complex sugars.
abstract: Enzymes have become exceedingly valuable tools in organic synthesis as the reactions they catalyze generally proceed under mild conditions and in high stereo- and regioselectivity. Advances in microbiology and genetic engineering have greatly increased the availability of various enzymes. One of the most useful applications of enzyme-catalyzed chemical transformations is in the synthesis of water-soluble, polyfunctional organic molecules such as carbohydrates. As the pivotal roles that carbohydrates play in biological processes become more evident, access to these compounds becomes increasingly important. This review gives a brief overview of the use of aldolases and transketolases in the synthesis of sugars, sugar analogs, and related compounds.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California 92037, USA.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Takayama
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: McGarvey
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Wong
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000378:metabolism; D050260:Carbohydrate Metabolism; D004099:Dihydroxyacetone Phosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D005285:Fermentation; D005634:Fructose-Bisphosphate Aldolase / Q000378:metabolism*; D005998:Glycine / Q000378:metabolism; D010728:Phosphoenolpyruvate / Q000378:metabolism; D019289:Pyruvic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D012267:Ribosemonophosphates / Q000378:metabolism; D014153:Transaldolase / Q000378:metabolism; D014174:Transketolase / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D012267:Ribosemonophosphates; D004099:Dihydroxyacetone Phosphate; D010728:Phosphoenolpyruvate; C058245:2-deoxyribose 5-phosphate; D019289:Pyruvic Acid; D014174:Transketolase; D014153:Transaldolase; D005634:Fructose-Bisphosphate Aldolase; D005998:Glycine