A method for producing lacto-N-biose I and galacto-N-biose inexpensively
and conveniently is provided.
The method for producing lacto-N-biose I or galacto-N-biose, characterized
in that the method comprises causing: (i) a combination of a
carbohydrate raw material with an enzyme that catalyzes phosphorolysis of
the carbohydrate raw material to give a-glucose-1-phosphate; and (ii) a
combination of an enzyme that converts .alpha.-glucose-1-phosphate to
UDP-glucose and an enzyme that converts UDP-galactose to
galactose-1-phosphate with their cofactors, and/or a combination of an
enzyme (UDP-Gly synthase) that converts .alpha.-glucose-1-phosphate and
UDP-galactose to UDP-glucose and .alpha.-galactose-1-phosphate,
respectively, with its cofactor(s)to act in the presence of
N-acetylglucosamine or N-acetylgalactosamine, phosphoric acid,
lacto-N-biose phosphorylase (EC 2.4.1.211), and UDP-glucose-4-epimerase
(EC 5.1.3.2).