Synthesis of rare sugars with L-fuculose-1-phosphate aldolase (FucA) from Thermus thermophilus HB8

We report herein a one-pot four-enzyme approach for the synthesis of the rare sugars D-psicose, D-sorbose, L-tagatose, and L-fructose with aldolase FucA from a thermophilic source (Thermus thermophilus HB8). Importantly, the cheap starting material DL-GP (DL-glycerol 3-phosphate), was used to significantly reduce the synthetic cost. (c) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.