INVESTIGATION OF 2-OXO-3-DEOXY-6-PHOSPHOGLUCONATE ALDOLASE FROM ZYMOMONAS-MOBILIS AS A CATALYST IN ORGANIC-SYNTHESIS

2-Oxo-3-deoxy-6-phosphogluconate (ODPG) has been synthesized starting from 2-deoxyribose 5-phosphate by a Kiliani-Fischer reaction and subse quent regioselective oxidation of the intermediate glucometasaccharini c acid 6-phosphate at C-2 in 26% yield. ODPG aldolase was enriched 6-f old from the bacterium Zymomonas mobilis A.T.C.C. 29191 by treatment w ith (NH4)(2)SO4 and H3PO4. This preparation was essentially free of en zyme activities, which would interfere with the intended application f or organic synthesis, and was used for the characterization of the ODP G aldolase. The ODPG aldolase is a class I aldolase with a K-m of 53 m u M of ODPG. In the direction of synthesis, pyruvate is the essential methylene component, while D-glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate as the aldehyd e component can be replaced by D-glyceraldehyde, glyoxylic acid and D- erythrose 4-phosphate.