Biotechnological production of L-ribose from L-arabinose

L-Ribose is a rare and expensive sugar that can be used as a precursor for the production of L-nucleoside analogues, which are used as antiviral drugs. In this work, we describe a novel way of producing L-ribose from the readily available raw material L-arabinose. This was achieved by introducing L-ribose isomerase activity into L-ribulokinase-deficient Escherichia coli UP1110 and Lactobacillus plantarum BPT197 strains. The process for L-ribose production by resting cells was investigated. The initial L-ribose production rates at 39 degrees C and pH 8 were 0.46 +/- 0.01 g g(-1) h(-1) (1.84 +/- 0.03 g l(-1) h(-1)) and 0.27 +/- 0.01 g g(-1) h(-1) (1.91 +/- 0.1 g l(-1) h(-1)) for E. coli and for L. plantarum, respectively. Conversions were around 20% at their highest in the experiments. Also partially purified protein precipitates having both L-arabinose isomerase and L-ribose isomerase activity were successfully used for converting L-arabinose to L-ribose.