THE SYNTHETIC UTILITY OF KDPGAL ALDOLASE

We describe the isolation and purification of KDPGal aldolase from two sources. To facilitate this isolation, a facile five-step chemical sy nthesis of 2-keto-3-deoxy-6-phosphogalactonate (KDPGal) (1) from comme rcially available D-galactono- 1,4-lactone (3) is described. The key s teps are the beta-elimination of the protected aldonolactone 4 to furn ish the desired 2,3-unsaturated ketone 5 and selective phosphorylation of the primary hydroxyl moiety of the diol 7. The purity of the KDPGa l sample was > 95% as determined by enzymatic assay using crude KDPGal aldolase from Pseudomonas saccharophila. An initial substrate specifi city and pH-activity profile of KDPGal aldolase are described. (C) 199 8 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.