Biosynthesis of Isoprenoids. A Rapid Method for the Preparation of Isotope-Labeled 4-Diphosphocytidyl-2C-methyl- d -erythritol

4-Diphosphocytidyl-2 C -methyl- d -erythritol serves as an intermediate in the nonmevalonate pathway of isoprenoid biosynthesis. The compound has been prepared in millimole quantity by a sequence of one-pot reactions using 13 C-labeled pyruvate and dihydroxyacetone phosphate or 13 C-labeled glucose as starting materials and recombinant enzymes of the nonmevalonate isoprenoid pathway as catalysts. The method has been used for the preparation of various 4-diphosphocytidyl-2 C -methyl- d -erythritol isotopomers in high yield.