Chemical Properties
white crystals or powder
Uses
It is produced by microorganism fermentation of glucose in a fermentation culture medium without adding calcium carbonate.
Definition
A monosaccharide; a component of RNA.
Definition
ribose: A monosaccharide, C5H10O5, rarely occurring free in nature but important as a component of RNA (ribonucleic acid). Its derivative deoxyribose, C5H10O4, is equally important as a constituent of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid), which carries the genetic code in chromosomes.
Biosynthesis
L-ribose is the enantiomer of D-ribose, which occurs naturally. It is a building block of many novel nucleotide analogue anti-viral drugs. Bio-production of L-ribose relies on a two-step reaction: (i) conversion of L-arabinose to L-ribulose by the catalytic action of L-arabinose isomerase (L-AI) and (ii) conversion of L-ribulose to L-ribose by the catalytic action of L-ribose isomerase (L-RI, EC 5.3.1.B3) or mannose-6-phosphate isomerase (MPI, EC 5.3.1.8, alternately named as phosphomannose isomerase). Among the two enzymes, L-RI is a rare enzyme discovered in 1996 by Professor Izumori's group, whereas MPI is an essential enzyme in metabolic pathways in humans and microorganisms[1].
Synthesis
A method for converting inexpensive, naturally occurring D-ribose into L-ribose is by interconverting the hydroxy group at Cl and the hydroxymethyl group at C5. L-Ribose is prepared from D-ribose by (a) forming a hydroxy-protected D-ribose, (b) reducing the hydroxy-protected D-ribose to a protected tetrol, (c) converting the tetrol to a tetraester, such as a tetraacetate; (d) hydrolyzing the protecting group to form a hydroxymethyl tetraester; (e) oxidizing the hydroxymethyl group to form a tetraester aldehyde; and (f) hydrolysing the ester groups to yield L-ribose.
References
[1] M. Helanto. “Biotechnological production of l-ribose from l-arabinose.” Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology 83 1 (2009): 77–83.
