ENZYMATIC PRODUCTION OF ASCORBIC ACID-2-PHOSPHATE

Microorganisms that produce ascorbic acid-2-phosphate (AsA2P) from ascorbic acid (AsA) and ATP were screened from our culture collection. Of 715 strains, three microorganisms, Pseudomonas azotocolligans KY 4661, P. paucimobilis KY 4084, and an unidentified bacterium KY3132 were selected as AsA2P-producers. When using 50mg (wet weight) of P. azotocolligans cells per ml as the enzyme source, 3.7mM AsA2P were produced for 23hr, from 30mM AsA and 40mM ATP. From analytical data of the purified product from the reaction mixture, these microorganisms phosphorylated AsA at the C-2 position specifically. © 1990 by the Japan Society for Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Agrochemistry.