Simple enzymatic in situ generation of dihydroxyacetone phosphate and its use in a cascade reaction for the production of carbohydrates: Increased efficiency by phosphate cycling

A new enzymatic method for the generation of dihydroxyacetone phosphate ( DHAP) using the acid phosphatase from Shigella flexneri ( PhoN-Sf) and the cheap phosphate donor pyrophosphate ( PPi) is described. The utility of this method was demonstrated in an aldolase-catalyzed condensation carried out in one pot in which DHAP was generated and coupled to propionaldehyde to give a yield of 53% of the isolated dephosphorylated end product.