Enzyme sources recent advances

A comprehensive review (260 refs.) on the synthesis of carbohydrates from noncarbohydrate sources covers the use of benzene-derived diols and products of Sharpless asymmetric oxidation as starting materials, Dodoni s thiazole and Vogel s naked sugar approaches, as well as the application of enzyme-catalysed aldol condensations. The preparation of monosaccharides by enzyme-catalysed aldol condensations is also discussed in a review on recent advances in the chemoenzymic synthesis of carbohydrates and carbohydrate mimetics, in parts of reviews on the formation of carbon-carbon bonds by enzymic asymmetric synthesis and on carbohydrate-mediated biochemical recognition processes as potential targets for drug development, as well as in connection with the introduction of three Aldol Reaction Kits that provide dihydroxyacetone phosphate-dependent aldolases (27 refs.). A further review deals with the synthesis of carbohydrates by application of the nitrile oxide 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition (13 refs.). ... 

This order of evaluation (biochemical, first starch gel, second) is amply justified from our own experiences and the consensus of opinion at a recent symposium on multiple molecular forms of enzymes. In particular, heterogeneity of human intestinal alkaline phosphatase on starch gel was reported by Moss (M34) and Fishman and Kreisher (F9, K25). A certain amount of LPSAP intestinal enzyme may occupy the same position that liver alkaline phosphatase migrates to. On the other hand, more than one band in nonliver positions can be produced by intestine. Another similar situation is seen with placental alkaline phosphatase, which may show three bands. Consequently, the starch-gel data can be correlated with biochemical studies only if the nature and organ source of the preparation are known in advance. 

Baeyer-Villiger reaction. The primary sources of BVMO enzymes carry associated disadvantages that must now be addressed, although recent biotechnological advances suggest that BVMOs will be more accessible to the synthetic organic chemist in the future. 

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