Chemo-enzymatic synthesis of nucleosides and nucleotides by immobilized and stabilized enzymes

Abstract

Modified nucleosides and nucleotides are widely used as antiviral and anticancer drugs. These compounds are routinely synthesized by complex chemical procedures, involving several protection/deprotection reactions that affect the overall yield, the reaction time and the process costs. Alternatively, nucleosides and nucleotides can be prepared via enzymatic processes. The use of immobilized and stabilized enzymes on solid support enables the exploitation of the inherent selectivity of enzymes with the advantages to avoid the risk of protein contaminants, to re-use the biocatalysts, and to improve their performances (e.g. stability) in a wide range of experimental conditions. The main goal of this research was the preparation of 5’-deoxynucleosides, such as doxifluridine and capecitabine, antineoplastic drugs, and 5’-mononucleotides, such as UMP, CMP, AMP and GMP, used as baby food additives.