Two-step enzymatic synthesis of UDP-N-acetylgalactosamine

UDP-GalNAc has been synthesised with high yield from GalNAc, UTP and ATP using recombinant human GalNAc kinase GK2 and UDP-GalNAc pyrophosphorylase AGX1. Both enzymes have been prepared in one step from I L cultures of transformed Escherichia coli and I he UDP-GalNAc produced has been purified by a simple procedure. The method described is a rapid ;and efficient means to produce UDP-GalNAc as well as analogues like UDP-N-azidoacetylgalactosamine (UDP-GalNAz). (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.