Transketolase-Aldolase Symbiosis for the Stereoselective Preparation of Aldoses and Ketoses of Biological Interest

Asymmetric Synthesis of N-Substituted 1,2-Amino Alcohols from Simple Aldehydes and Amines by One-Pot Sequential Enzymatic Hydroxymethylation and Asymmetric Reductive Amination

The chiral N-substituted 1,2-amino alcohol motif is found in many natural and synthetic bioactive compounds. In this study, enzymatic asymmetric reductive amination of α-hydroxymethyl ketones with enantiocomplementary imine reductases (IREDs) enabled the synthesis of chiral N-substituted 1,2-amino alcohols with excellent ee values (91-99 %) in moderate to high yields (41-84 %). Furthermore, a one-pot, two-step enzymatic process involving benzaldehyde lyase-catalyzed hydroxymethylation of aldehydes and subsequent asymmetric reductive amination was developed, offering an environmentally friendly and economical way to produce N-substituted 1,2-amino alcohols from readily available simple aldehydes and amines. This methodology was then applied to rapidly access a key synthetic intermediate of anti-malaria and cytotoxic tetrahydroquinoline alkaloids.

2-Ketogluconate Kinase from Cupriavidus necator H16: Purification, Characterization, and Exploration of Its Substrate Specificity

We have cloned, overexpressed, purified, and characterized a 2-ketogluconate kinase (2-dehydrogluconokinase, EC 2.7.1.13) from Cupriavidus necator (Ralstonia eutropha) H16. Exploration of its substrate specificity revealed that three ketoacids (2-keto-3-deoxy-d-gluconate, 2-keto-d-gulonate, and 2-keto-3-deoxy-d-gulonate) with structures close to the natural substrate (2-keto-d-gluconate) were successfully phosphorylated at an efficiency lower than or comparable to 2-ketogluconate, as depicted by the measured kinetic constant values. Eleven aldo and keto monosaccharides of different chain lengths and stereochemistries were also assayed but not found to be substrates. 2-ketogluconate-6-phosphate was synthesized at a preparative scale and was fully characterized for the first time.