Biosynthesis of Deoxysugars

Abstract

This review is primarily a survey of current knowledge regarding the enzymatic pathways responsible for the synthesis of deoxysugars. The reactions discussed fall into several categories. The synthesis of 6-deoxyhexoses occurs by a series of transformations of sugars linked to nucleotide diphosphates. The synthesis of 2-keto-3-deoxyaldonic acids of 5 and 6 carbon atoms occurs by reactions which can formally be described as dehydration of the corresponding aldonic acid; on the other hand, the synthesis of 2-keto-3-deoxyaldonic acids of 7 to 9 carbon atoms occurs by an "aldo type" condensation mechanism. Finally, the main path of deoxyribose biosynthesis appears to be the reduction of ribonucleotide diphosphates to the corresponding deoxyribonucleotide diphosphates by mechanisms which are not yet understood in detail.