Enzyme-catalysed carbon–carbon bond formation: use of transketolase from Escherichia coli

Abstract

Transketolase has been obtained in greater quantities from an over-expressed E. coli transformant carrying the transketolase gene. Crude extracts of this organism are suitable for use in small scale biotransformations to provide mmol quantities of product. Initial results indicate that the transketolase from E. coli is relatively non-specific for the aldehyde component of the reaction.