A coenzyme-free pathway converts lactose into galacto-N-biose (IMAGE)

Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences

A coenzyme-free pathway converts lactose into galacto-N-biose

Caption

In one pot, lactose phosphorylase (LacP) splits the dairy byproduct lactose into galactose 1-phosphate and glucose; lacto-N-biose phosphorylase (LnbP) then transfers the galactose unit onto N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc) to form the gut-health disaccharide galacto-N-biose (GNB), rearranging  a β-1,4 bond into a β-1,3 bond. The auxiliary enzyme polyphosphate glucokinase (PPGK) removes the byproduct glucose using polyphosphate. This in vitro ATP-free and UDP-sugar-free enzymatic pathway not only pushes the reaction equilibrium toward the biosynthesis of GNB, but also achieves the regeneration of inorganic phosphate.

Credit

Chinese Journal of Biotechnology

Usage Restrictions

News organizations may use or redistribute this image, with proper attribution, as part of news coverage of this paper only.

License

Original content

Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.