Enzyme-catalyzed synthesis of nucleoside triphosphates from nucleoside monophosphates

Abstract

Syntheses of adenosine 5′-triphosphate (ATP) from adenosine 5′-monophosphate (AMP) and ribavirin 5′-triphosphate (RTP) from ribavirin 5′-monophosphate (RMP) (1) were performed using enzymes as catalysts. Synthesis of ATP is based on acetyl phosphate as the phosphate donor, and acetate kinase (Bacillus stearothermophilus, EC 2.7.2.1), adenylate kinase (porcine muscle, EC 2.7.4.3), and inorganic pyrophosphatase (yeast, EC 2.6.1.1) as the catalysts. Three reactions on a 150-mmol scale provided ATP as its barium salt in 82% yield and 67% purity. Synthesis of RTP used phosphoenol pyruvate (PEP) as the phosphate donor, and pyruvate kinase (rabbit muscle, EC 2.7.1.40) and adenylate kinase (rabbit muscle) as the catalysts. A gram-scale reaction provided RTP as its barium salt in 93% yield and 97% purity. This work demonstrates the utility of the autoxidationresistant acetate kinase fromB. stearothermophilus, the value of pyrophosphatase in controlling the level of pyrophosphate in the reactions and the ability of adenylate kinase to accept at least one substrate other than a derivative of adenosine.