MICROBIAL SYNTHESIS OF 3-DEOXY-D-ERYTHRO-HEX-2-ULOSONIC ACID 6-PHOSPHATE

A microbial route was explored for the synthesis of 3-deoxy-D-erythro- hex-2-ulosonic acid 6-phosphate (2-keto-3-deoxy-6-phosphogluconate, KD PG). Two strains of bacteria, Alcaligenes eutrophus H16 F34 (DSM 529) and Escherichia coli DF 71 (CGSC 4880), lacking in KDPG-aldolase activ ity were tested for excretion of KDPG. Using pyruvate and gluconate as carbon sources, Alcaligenes eutrophus H16 F34 accumulated and excrete d 3-deoxy-D-erythro-hexulosonic acid 6-phosphate into the culture brot h, while the E. coli strain, using pyruvate and glucuronate, failed. K DPG was isolated from the culture supernatant of Alcaligenes eutrophus H16 F34 in 78% yield and 5 g scale with respect to the consumed gluco nate.