Production of nucleosides by large-scale bioconversion

the preparation of both natural and base modified ribonucleosides as well a s 2'-deoxy, 2'-3'-dideoxy and arabinofuranosilnucleosides catalyzed by nucl eoside phosphorylase enzymes is described. The catalyst consisted in Entero bacter aerogenes cells grown at high biomass and under phosphorylase induci ng conditions. The implementation of this bioconversion approach in pilot s care was demonstrated by producing beta-D-arabinofuranosyl-adenine (Ara-A) at multikilo levels.