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.