Biosynthesis of isoprenoids.: A rapid method for the preparation of isotope-labeled 4-diphosphocytidyl-2C-methyl-D-erythritol

4-Diphosphocytidyl-2C-methyl-D-erythritol serves as an intermediate in the nonmevalonate pathway of isoprenoid biosynthesis. The compound has been prepared in millimole quantity by a sequence of one-pot reactions using C-13-labeled pyruvate and dihydroxyacetone phosphate or C-13-labeled glucose as starting materials and recombinant enzymes of the nonmevalonate isoprenoid pathway as catalysts. The method has been used for the preparation of various 4-diphosphocytidyl-2C-methyl-D-erythritol isotopomers in high yield.