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Updated: Mar 19, 2026

Hierarchical and Programmable One-Pot Oligosaccharide Synthesis
Published on: September 6, 2019
Oligosaccharide oxidase for the enzymatic synthesis of glucosaminic acids
Olanrewaju Raji1, Thu V Vuong1, Nadia Davoudvandi1,2
1Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, 200 College Street, Toronto, ON, M5S 3E5, Canada.
Abstract:
D-Glucosaminic acid is a valuable amino acid useful in food and medical applications. It is a highly sought after enantiopure molecule important for the synthesis of drugs and glycopeptides. Current enzymatic synthesis pathways to D-glucosaminic acid carry disadvantages such as low product yield and long reaction times. Herein, the Auxiliary Activity 7 chito-oligosaccharide oxidase from Lentinus brumalis, LbChi7A, was shown as a potent biocatalyst capable of efficiently converting D-glucosamine (GlcN) and N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (GlcNAc) to their respective C1-acids. The substrate specificity of LbChi7A towards GlcN and GlcNAc enabled the conversion of at least 90% GlcN to D-glucosaminic acid and 100% GlcNAc to N-acetyl-D-glucosaminic acid within 60 min. LbChi7A inhibition by the hydrogen peroxide co-product was not detected, even at 860 mM. This single enzymatic conversion offers a clean and efficient process to produce industrially relevant glucosaminic acids, including D-glucosaminic acid and N-acetyl-D-glucosaminic acid.
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