WO2000056911A1 - Synthesis of 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroxybenzenes and 1,2,3-trihydroxybenzenes using myo-inositol-1-phosphate synthase and myo-inositol 2-dehydrogenase - Google Patents

Abstract

A bioengineered synthesis scheme for the production of 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroxybenzene from a carbon source is provided. Methods of producing 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroxybenzene acid from a carbon source based on the synthesis scheme are also provided. Methods are also provided for converting 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroxybenzene to 1,2,3-trihydroxybenzene by catalytic hydrogenation.

Description

SYNTHESIS OF 1,2,3,4-TETRAHYDROXYBENZENES AND 1,2,3-

TRIHYDROXYBENZENES USING MYO-INOSITOL-1-PHOSPHATE SYNTHASE

AND MYO-INOSITOL 2-DEHYDROGENASE

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present invention is a continuation-in-part of U .S. Serial No. 09/274,732, filed March 23, 1 999, which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference.

SPONSORSHIP Work on this invention was sponsored in part by the National Science Foundation Grant No. CHE963368. The Government may have certain rights in the invention.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention is related to the production of 1 ,2,3,4- tetrahydroxybenzene and more specifically, to methods of producing 1 ,2,3,4- tetrahydroxybenzene from the bioconversion of a carbon source. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Polyhydroxy benzenes and quinones possessing the oxygenation pattern of 1 ,2,3,4-tetrahydroxybenzene 1 (Figure 1 ) often display biological activity. Aurantiogliocladin 2 and fumigatin 3 (Figure 1 ) are antibiotics. Vischer, E.B., J. Chem. Soc. 81 5 ( 1 953); Baker, W. et al. , J. Chem. Soc. 820 ( 1 953); Baker, W. et al., J. Chem. Soc. 670 ( 1 941 ) . Coenzyme Q_{n= 10} 4 (Figure 1 ) is an essential antioxidant in humans protecting low density lipoproteins from atherosclerosis- related oxidative modification. Ingold, K.U. et al., PNAS (USA) 90:45 (1 993); Stocker, R. et al., PNAS (USA) 88: 1 646 ( 1 991 ); Steinberg, D., Circulation 84: 1 420 ( 1 991 ). Dillapiole 5 (Figure 1 ) is a pyrethrin synergist and is responsible for the sedative effect of Perilla frutescens leaves. Honda, G . et al., Chem. Pharm. Bull. 36:31 53 (1 988); Tomar, S.S. et al., Agric. Biol. Chem. 50:21 1 5 (1 986).

The current method of preparing 1 ,2,3,4-tetrahydroxybenzene uses pyrogallol as the synthetic starting material. Pyrogallol is converted to aminopyrogallol using a four-step synthesis. Aminopyrogallol is then hydrolyzed to give 1 ,2,3,4-tetrahydroxybenzene. Conversion of pyrogallol to 1 ,2,3,4- tetrahydroxybenzene requires the use of such reagents as phosgene, solvents such as pyridine and xylene, and has a nitroaromatic as a synthetic intermediate.

It would also be desirable to provide an improved method for producing derivatives of 1 ,2,3,4-tetrahydroxybenzene. Particularly, it would be desirable to provide a method for producing 1 ,2,3-trιhydroxybenzene (pyrogallol) . It would also be desirable if such a method were cost efficient and employed readily available materials. Currently, 1 ,2,3-trιhydroxybenzene is obtained by thermal decarboxylation of gallic acid. However, gallic acid is isolated from natural sources such as gall nuts and tara powder and therefore is in limited supply.

It would thus be desirable to provide an improved method for producing 1 ,2,3,4-tetrahydroxybenzene. It would also be desirable if such a method was cost-efficient, using inexpensive starting materials. It would be further desirable if the method employed non-toxic compounds and was environmentally benign. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A bioengineered synthesis scheme for the production of 1 ,2,3,4- tetrahydroxybenzene from a carbon source is provided. In one embodiment, the bioconversion methods of the present invention comprise the steps of microbe- catalyzed conversion of a carbon source to /77 o-2-ιnosose followed by acid- catalyzed dehydration of myo-2-ιnosose to produce 1 ,2,3,4-tetrahydroxybenzene. As shown in the synthesis scheme of Figure 2, the microbe-catalyzed conversion step of the present invention requires four enzymes In one embodiment, the microbe-catalyzed conversion comprises the conversion of a carbon source to myo- inositol by a recombinant microbe and the subsequent conversion of m o-ιnosιtol to /τ?yo-2-ιnosose catalyzed by a second microbe In another embodiment, the recombinant microbe is Escherichia coli designed to cause the conversion of glucose-6-phosphate to m o-ιnosιtol- 1 -phosphate. In yet another embodiment, the conversion of m o-inositol to /τ. yo-2-ιnosose is catalyzed by the microbe Gluconobacter oxydans Acid-catalyzed dehydration of the resulting /77yo-2-ιnosose yields 1 ,2,3,4-tetrahydroxybenzene.

The biocatalytic synthesis of 1 ,2,3,4-tetrahydroxybenzene provided herein is environmentally benign, economically attractive, and utilizes abundant renewable sources as a starting material.

Methods are also provided for the production of derivatives of 1 ,2,3,4- tetrahydroxybenzene, particularly Coenzyme Q 1 ,2,3-trιhydroxybenzene (pyrogallol) In one embodiment 1 ,2,3-trιhydroxybenzene is produced by reduction of 1 ,2,3,4- tetrahydroxybenzene In a preferred embodiment, the reduction is achieved by catalytic hydrogenation followed by hydrolysis Additional objects, advantages, and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The various advantages of the present invention will become apparent to one skilled in the art by reading the following specification and subjoined claims and by referencing the following drawings in which:

Figure 1 is an illustration showing the structures of products that can be derived from 1 ,2,3,4-tetrahydroxybenzene; Figure 2 is a schematic illustrating the bioengineered synthesis scheme of the present invention for producing 1 ,2,3,4-tetrahydroxybenzene;

Figure 3 is a graph showing the production of myo-inositol in comparison to cell dry weight;

Figure 4 is a schematic illustrating the conventional synthetic scheme for synthesizing 1 ,2,3,4-tetrahydroxybenzene; and

Figure 5 is a schematic illustrating the synthesis scheme for converting 1 ,2,3,4-tetrahydroxybenzene to Coenzyme Q.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A bioengineered synthesis scheme for the production of 1 ,2,3,4- tetrahydroxybenzene from a carbon source is provided herein. Methods of producing 1 ,2,3,4-tetrahydroxybenzene from a carbon source based on the synthesis scheme are also provided. In one embodiment, a method is provided wherein the carbon source is converted to myo-inositol by a recombinant microbe, the /77yo-inositoi is further converted to /77 o-2-inosose by a second microbe, followed by acid-catalyzed dehydration of 77yo-2-inosose to produce 1 ,2,3,4- tetrahydroxybenzene.

Novel methods are also provided for the production of derivatives of 1 ,2,3,4- tetrahydroxybenzene, particularly 1 ,2,3-trihydroxybenzene (pyrogallol) . In one embodiment 1 ,2,3-trihydroxybenzene is produced by reduction of 1 ,2,3,4- tetrahydroxybenzene. In a preferred embodiment, the reduction is achieved by catalytic hydrogenation of 1 ,2,3,4-tetrahydroxybenzene followed by acid catalyzed hydrolysis to yield 1 ,2,3-trihydroxybenzene. In a more preferred embodiment, the hydrogenation is catalyzed by Rh/Al₂0₃. These methods take advantage of inexpensive and abundant carbon sources as starting materials to produce 1 ,2,3,4- tetrahydroxybenzene which can then be converted to 1 ,2,3-trihydroxybenzene. Although microbe-catalyzed conversion of a carbon source to m o-inositol by a recombinant microbe followed by conversion of the myo-inositol to myo-2- inosose by a second microbe is described in detail herein, in an alternative embodiment, a single recombinant microbe is employed to convert a carbon source directly to mi/o-2-inosose which is then converted to 1 ,2,3,4-tetrahydroxybenzene by an acid-catalyzed dehydration. This single-microbe conversion may be carried out by any type of microbe sufficiently engineered to produce the desired outcome. In another alternative embodiment, a recombinant microbe catalyzes the conversion of a carbon source to D-2,3-diketo-4-deoxy-ep/-inositol which is subsequently converted to 1 ,2,3,4-tetrahydroxybenzene by an acid-catalyzed dehydration. D-2,3-Diketo-4-deoxy-e /-inositol is an intermediate in the microbial cataboiism of m o-inositol as well as a likely intermediate in the acid-catalyzed conversion of m/o-2-inosose into 1 ,2,3,4-tetrahydroxybenzene.

The bioconversion methods of the present invention are carried out under conditions of time, temperature, pH, nutrient type and concentration, aeration conditions and glucose concentrations, to provide maximal conversion of the carbon source to 1 ,2,3,4-tetrahydroxybenzene. As described in detail in Specific Example 1 , in a preferred embodiment, a fed-batch fermentor is used to convert the carbon source to /nyo-inositol, followed by isolation of /nyo-inositol, e.g. , deionization and decolorization of the fermentation broth and precipitation by the addition of an organic solvent. The isolated myo-inositol is then converted to myo-inositol to myo- 2-inosose followed by isolation of the 77/o-2-inosose, e.g. , precipitation of the myo- 2-inosose from the culture broth. The fed-batch fermentor process and the precipitation methods are also known to those skilled in the art. As used herein, the phrase "carbon source" is meant to include biomass- derived carbon sources including, but not limited to, xylose, arabinose, glycerol, glucose and the intermediates (e.g. , dicarboxylic acids) in the Krebs cycle, either alone or in combination. In a preferred embodiment, the carbon source is glucose.

In one embodiment, a recombinant E. coli microbe is employed in the methods of the present invention. In a preferred embodiment, the E. co//comprises a non-functional serA locus. This recombinant E. coli, designated, JWF1 , may further comprise a plasmid carrying an /NO 1 gene insert and a serA gene insert. The /NO 1 gene encodes m o-inositol-l -phosphate synthase which converts glucose-6-phosphate to m o-inositol- 1 -phosphate. In a preferred embodiment, the INO 1 gene is from Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Overexpression of / . yo-inositol-l - phosphate synthase will increase carbon flow into the myo-inositol pathway. This recombinant microbe is capable of converting glucose to myo-inositol.

In another embodiment, the myo-inositol produced by the first recombinant microbe, is converted to /77yo-2-inosose by a second microbe. This second microbe can either be a recombinant microbe or a naturally occurring microbe. A recombinant microbe comprises a plasmid carrying the iolG gene insert. The io/G gene insert encodes the enzyme inositol dehydrogenase, which catalyzes the conversion of myo-inositol to m o-2-inosose. Alternatively, the iolG gene insert is inserted directly into the genome of the recombinant microbe. Preferably, the iolG gene is isolated from Bacillus subtilis. In a preferred embodiment, the second microbe is a naturally occurring microbe that express inositol dehydrogenase activity. Examples of such microbes include, but are not limited to, Bacillus subtilis and Gluconobacter oxydans. In a preferred embodiment, the second microbe is G. oxydans, which converts myo-inositol to /77j/o-2-inosose without loss of the myo-2- inosose product to further catabolism.

In a preferred embodiment, the recombinant E. coli comprises plasmid pAD 1 .88A carrying an /N01 gene insert and a serA gene insert. As described above, the INO l gene insert encodes m o-inositol-1 -phosphate synthase which converts glucose-6-phosphate to myo-inositol-l -phosphate, thus increasing the carbon flow into the myo-inositol pathway. Due to a mutation in the E. coli genomic serA locus required for L-serine biosynthesis, growth in minimal salts medium and plasmid maintenance follows from expression of plasmid-localized serA . The serA insert thus allows microbial growth in minimal salts medium, distinguishing the microbes containing the plasmid from non-plasmid containing microbes.

In an alternative embodiment, the recombinant E. coli comprises a plasmid carrying an INO l gene insert, an IolG gene insert and a serA gene insert. As described above, the io/G gene insert encodes inositol dehydrogenase which catalyzes the conversion of myo-inositol to Λnvo-2-inosose. in a preferred embodiment, the plasmid also carries the gene insert for inositol monophosphatase. While not wishing to be bound by theory, hydrolysis of myo-inositol-1 -phosphate to produce myo-inositol can occur in the cytosol or periplasm. If a cytoplasmic phosphatase hydrolyzes myo-inositol- 1 -phosphate, plasmid-localized /N01 and io/G will lead to 77/o-2-inosose synthesis. Periplasmic phosphatase activity would result in periplasmic production of myo-inositol while inositol dehydrogenase expression is localized in the cytoplasm. Transport of myo-inositol from the periplasm into the cytoplasm is unlikely in E. coli given that this microbe does not catabolize myo- inositol. To correct for periplasmic phosphatase activity, plasmid-localization of genes encoding mammalian inositol monophosphatase, which have been cloned, sequenced, and successfully expressed in E. coli, would be desirable. Diehl, R.E. et al., J. Biol. Chem. 265 :5946 ( 1 990); McAllister, G. et al., Biochem. J. 284:749 ( 1 992). Because of the specificity of this enzyme for myo-inositol-l -phosphate, a molecule which is not a normal metabolite in E. coli, cytoplasmic expression of the cDNA encoding inositol monophosphatase in E. co// should not be problematic. An E. coli comprising a plasmid carrying both the INO l gene insert and the io/G gene insert and the gene for inositol monophosphatase can convert glucose directly to myo-2-inosose. The myσ-2-inosose can then be converted to 1 ,2,3,4- tetrahydroxybenzene by an acid-catalyzed dehydration.

In another embodiment, the recombinant E. coli, designated JWF1 , comprises a plasmid carrying an INO l gene insert, an iolG gene insert, and a serA gene insert. This recombinant microbe is capable of converting glucose to myo-2- inosose. In a preferred embodiment, the recombinant E. coli comprises plasmid pAD2.28A carrying an /N01 gene insert, an io/G gene insert and a serA gene insert. Examples of these recombinant microbes, E. coli JWF1 /pAD 1 .88A and JWF1 /pAD2.28A, are described in Specific Examples 1 and 4, respectively, and have been deposited with the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC), 1 2301 Parklawn Drive, Rockville, Maryland 20582, under the terms of the Budapest Treaty, and accorded the ATCC designation numbers 2071 53 and 2071 54, respectively. The deposit will be maintained in the ATCC depository, which is a public depository, for a period of 30 years, or 5 years after the most recent request, or for the effective life of a patent, whichever is longer, and will be replaced if the deposit becomes depleted or non-viable during that period. Samples of the deposit will become available to the public and all restrictions imposed on access to the deposit will be removed upon grant of a patent on this application. In yet another embodiment, a recombinant E. coli is employed to convert glucose to D-2,3-diketo-4-deoxy-e /-inositol. Such a recombinant E. co//comprises a plasmid carrying the INO l gene insert, the io/G gene insert and the gene insert encoding for the enzyme, Λ7?yo-2-inosose dehydratase. The plasmid may further comprise the gene insert for inositol monophosphatase. Wyo-2-inosose dehydratase catalyzes the conversion of myo-2-inosose to D-2,3-diketo-4-deoxy-ep/-inositol which can undergo an acid-catalyzed dehydration to yield 1 , 2,3,4- tetrahydroxybenzene. While not wishing to be bound by theory, D-2,3-diketo-4- deoxy-ep/-inositol is likely the first intermediate in the acid-catalyzed conversion of 77yo-2-inosose to 1 ,2,3,4-tetrahydroxybenzene. Acid-catalyzed aromatization of D-2,3-diketo-4-deoxy-ep/-inositol would eliminate a step and may lead to higher yields of 1 ,2,3,4-tetrahydroxybenzene as compared to the acid-catalyzed dehydration of / ?yo-2-inosose.

It will be appreciated that the INO l gene, io/G gene, serA gene and the genes encoding inositol dehydrogenase, inositol monophosphatase and/or myo-2- inosose dehydratase, can be inserted directly into the E. coli genome. Such a recombinant E. coli would not require a plasmid to produce significant amounts of myo-inositol, /7?yo-2-inosose or D-2,3-diketo-4-deoxy-ep/-inositol.

Although E. coli is specifically described herein as the microbe for carrying out the methods of the present invention, it will be appreciated that any microorganism such as the common types cited in the literature and known to those skilled in the art, may be employed, provided the microorganism can be altered to effect the desired conversion (e.g. , carbon source to myo-inositol, carbon source to /77yo-2-inosose, carbon source to D-2,3-diketo-4-deoxy-ep/-inositol, myo-inositol to /7?yo-2-inosose, etc.) . Thus it is envisaged that many types of fungi, bacteria and yeasts will work in the methods of the present invention. Such microorganisms may be developed, for example, through selection, mutation, and/or genetic transformation processes with the characteristic and necessary capability of converting one constituent of the synthesis scheme of the present invention to another. Methods for such development are well known to the skilled practitioner. In order to carry out the bioconversion methods of the present invention, a solution containing a carbon source is contacted with the recombinant or wild-type microbe to form a bioconversion mixture which is maintained under appropriate conditions to promote the conversion of the carbon source to the desired constituent, e.g. , myo-inositol or /r?yo-2-inosose. In a preferred embodiment, the bioconversion mixture is maintained at a temperature of about 30 °C to about 37 °C and a pH of about 6.5 to about 7.5. It is preferred that the bioconversion mixture also contain other substances necessary to promote viability of the microbes such as mineral salts, buffers, cofactors, nutrient substances and the like. The more general requirements for the maintenance of viability of microorganisms are well known and specific requirements for maintaining the viability of specific organisms are also well known as documented in the literature, or are otherwise easily determined by those skilled in the art.

In another embodiment, the myo-inositol produced in the fermentation broth of the first bioconversion with the first microbe can be isolated before being utilized in the second bioconversion. The isolation can be a total isolation to provide pure myσ-inositol as described in Specific Example 1 . The isolation can also be a partial isolation where the fermentation broth is deproteinized and decolorized before use in the second bioconversion. Such deproteinization and decolorization are well known to those skilled in the art. Further purification of the myo-inositol can be obtained by concentration of the deproteinized/decolorized fermentation broth to a volume where the myo-inositol concentration is greater than 50 g/L. At concentrations greater than 50 g/L, the myo-inositol can be precipitated out by the addition of methanol. By way of non-limiting example, myo-inositol can be isolated from the fermentation broth by the following four steps: ultrafiltration to remove cells and proteins; decolorization by activated charcoal; concentration of the fermentation broth to give a myo-inositol concentration greater than 50 g/L; and precipitation of myo-inositol by the addition of methanol. The myo-inositol precipitate can be washed, resuspended in buffer or water, and used in the second bioconversion to /77yo-2-inosose. Novel methods for converting 1 ,2,3,4-tetrahydroxybenzene to 1 ,2,3- trihydroxybenzene are also provided. In one embodiment, a method is provided wherein 1 ,2,3,4-tetrahydroxybenzene is reduced to 1 ,2,3-trihydroxybenzene.

In one embodiment, the 1 ,2,3,4-tetrahydroxybenzene is converted to 1 ,2,3- trihydroxybenzene by hydrogenation in the presence of a catalyst followed by acid catalyzed hydrolysis. In a preferred embodiment, the catalyst is Rh/Al₂0₃. The amount of catalyst required and the conditions required for hydrogenation (e.g. , pressure, time) are well known to the skilled practitioner.

In another embodiment, the hydrogenation reaction is carried out in an aqueous 1 ,2,3,4-tetrahydroxybenzene solution. In a preferred embodiment, the aqueous 1 ,2,3,4-tetrahydroxybenzene solution will be free of any compounds known to quench the hydrogenolysis catalyst. In a more preferred embodiment, the aqueous 1 ,2,3,4-tetrahydroxybenzene solution is comprised of isolated 1 ,2,3,4- tetrahydroxybenzene and water.

In order to more fully demonstrate the advantages arising from the present invention, the following examples are set forth . It is to be understood that the following is by way of example only and is not intended as a limitation on the scope of the invention.

SPECIFIC EXAMPLE 1 Synthesis Of 1 ,2,3,4-Tetrahydroxybenzene From Glucose I. Results

A synthetic route (Figure 2) has now been elaborated which provides convenient access to 1 ,2,3,4-tetrahydroxybenzene via myo-inositol intermediacy. The general utility of this route is demonstrated by a concise synthesis of coenzyme Q_{n = 3} 4. While the shikimate pathway and polyketide biosynthesis have traditionally provided biocatalytic access to aromatic chemicals, syntheses of 1 ,2,3,4- tetrahydroxybenzene 1 and coenzyme Q_{n = 3} 4 are distinguished by the recruitment of myo-inositol biosynthesis.

Synthesis of myo-inositol by E. coli JWF1 /pAD 1 .88A begins with D-glucose uptake and conversion to D-glucose-6-phosphate catalyzed by the E. coli phosphotransf erase system (Postma, P.W. et al., In Escherichia coli and Salmonella , 2nd ed., Neidhardt, F.C. et al., Eds., ASM: Washington, Vol. 1 , p. 1 149 ( 1 996)) where phosphoenolpyruvate is the source of the transferred phosphoryl group. D- Glucose-6-phosphate then undergoes cyclization to yo-inositol 1 -phosphate catalyzed by /rjyo-inositol-1 -phosphate synthase. This enzyme activity, which results from expression of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae INO l gene (Dean-Johnson, M. et al., J. Biol. Chem. 264: 1 274 ( 1 989)) on plasmid pAD 1 .88A, varied significantly (0.022, 0.043, 0.01 8, and 0.009 /ymol/min/mg at 1 8 h, 30 h, 42 h, and 54 h, respectively) over the course of the fermentation.

£. coli JWF1 /pAD 1 .88A synthesized 21 g/L myo-inositol (solid bars, Figure 3) and 4 g/L myo-inositol-1 -phosphate (open bars, Figure 3) in 1 1 % combined yield (mol/mol) from D-glucose under fed-batch fermentor conditions. Both myo-inositol and /τ?yo-inositol-1 -phosphate accumulated in the culture supernatant. In eucaryotes, hydrolysis of myo-inositol-l -phosphate to myo-inositol is catalyzed by the enzyme inositol monophosphatase. McAllister, G . et al., Biochem. J. 284:749 ( 1 992). Phosphoester hydrolysis was fortuitously catalyzed in E. coli JWF1 /pAD 1 .88A by unidentified cytosolic or periplasmic phosphatase activity.

Oxidation of myo-inositol to m yo-2-inosose, the next step in the conversion of D-glucose into 1 ,2,3,4-tetrahydroxybenzene 1 , is the first catabolic step when myo-inositol is used as a sole source of carbon for growth and metabolism by microbes such as Bacillus subtilis. Yoshida, K.-l . et al., J. Bacteriol. 1 79:4591 ( 1 997). myo-lnositol can also be oxidized by Gluconobacter oxydans without loss of product myo-2-inosose to catabolism. Posternak, T., Bioch. Prep. 2:57 ( 1 952). Accordingly, incubation of G. oxydans ATCC 621 in medium containing microbe- synthesized myo-inositol led to the formation of r?yo-2-inosose (Scheme 1 ) in 95 % isolated yield.

Inososes have been thought to be stable under acidic conditions and reactive under basic conditions with reported aromatizations resulting from successive β- eliminations being dominated by formation of 1 ,2,3,5-tetrahydroxybenzene. Posternak, T., The Cyclitols, Holden-Day: San Francisco, Chap. 8 ( 1 965); Angyal, S.J. et al., Carbohydr. Res. 76: 1 21 ( 1 979). However, it was observed that myo-2- inosose was reactive under acidic conditions with no apparent formation of 1 ,2,3,5- tetrahydroxybenzene. Refluxing G. oxydans-produced myo-2-inosose for 9 h in degassed, aqueous 0.5 M H₂S0₄ under argon cleanly afforded 1 , 2,3,4- tetrahydroxybenzene in 66% isolated yield. II . Materials And Methods

Genera/. ^ H NMR spectra were recorded on a 300 MHz spectrometer. Chemical shifts for ¹ H NMR spectra are reported (in parts per million) relative to internal tetramethylsiiane (Me₄Si, δ = 0.0 ppm) with CDCI₃ as solvent, to sodium 3-(trimethylsilyl)propionate-2,2,3,3-d₄ (TSP, δ = 0.0 ppm) when D₂0 was the solvent, and to acetone (CHD₂COCD₃, δ = 2.04 ppm) with <-/₆-acetone. ¹³C NMR spectra were recorded at 75 MHz. Chemical shifts for ¹³C NMR spectra are reported (in parts per million) relative to CDCI₃ (δ - 77.0 ppm), relative to CD₃COCD₃ (δ = 29.8 ppm), and relative to internal CH₃OH (δ = 49.0 ppm) or internal CH₃CN [δ = 1 .4 ppm) in D₂0. FAB mass spectra were performed by University of South Carolina (Columbia, SC). Elemental analyses were performed by Atlantic Microlab Inc. (Norcross, GA) . Melting points were uncorrected and were determined using a Mel-Temp II melting point apparatus.

Radial chromatography was carried out with a Harrison Associates Chromatotron using 1 , 2 or 4 mm layers of silica gel 60 PF₂₅₄ containing gypsum (E. Merck) . Silica gel 60 (40 - 63 pm E. Merck) was used for flash chromatography. Analytical thin-layer chromatography (TLC) utilized precoated plates of silica gel 60 F-254 (0.25 mm, E. Merck or Whatman) . TLC plates were visualized by immersion in anisaldehyde stain (by volume: 93% ethanol, 3.5 % sulfuric acid, 1 % acetic acid and 2.5 % anisaldehyde) followed by heating. Dimethylformamide, N- methylformanilide and acetone were dried and stored over activated Linde 4A molecular sieves under Ar. Tetrahydrofuran and diethyl ether were distilled under nitrogen from sodium benzophenone ketyl. n-Hexanes and TMEDA were distilled from sodium under Ar and stored over activated Linde 4A molecular sieves under Ar. Organic solutions of products were dried over MgS0₄. For ¹H NMR quantitation of solute concentrations during microbial synthesis of myo-inositol and /77yo-2-inosose, solutions were concentrated to dryness under reduced pressure, concentrated to dryness one additional time from D₂0, and then redissolved in D₂0 containing a known concentration of TSP purchased from Lancaster Synthesis Inc. Concentrations were determined by comparison of integrals corresponding to each compound with the integral corresponding to TSP (δ = 0.00 ppm) in the ¹H NMR. Protein concentrations were determined using the Bradford dye-binding procedure (Bradford, M.M., Anal. Biochem. 72:248 ( 1 979)) by comparison with a standard curve prepared with bovine serum albumin. Protein assay solution was purchased from Bio-Rad. E. coli DH5σ is available from Gibco BRL.

Culture Medium. All culture solutions were prepared in distilled, deionized water. LB medium ( 1 L) contained Bacto tryptone (1 0 g), Bacto yeast extract (5 g), and NaCI ( 1 0 g) . M9 salts ( 1 L) contained Na₂HP0₄ (6 g), KH₂P0₄ (3 g), NaCI (0.5 g) and NH₄CI ( 1 g) . M9 minimal medium ( 1 L) consisted of 1 L of M9 salts containing D-glucose ( 1 0 g), MgS0₄ (0.1 2 g), and thiamine hydrochlohde (0.001 g) . Ampicillin was added (0.05 g/L) where indicated. Solutions of M9 salts, MgS0₄, and glucose were autoclaved individually and then mixed. Ampicillin was sterilized through a 0.22 pm membrane. Solid medium was prepared by addition of 1 .5 % (w/v) Difco agar to medium. Fermentation medium ( 1 L) contained K₂HP0₄ (7.5 g), ammonium iron(lll) citrate (0.3 g), citric acid monohydrate (2.1 g), and concentrated H₂S0₄ ( 1 .2 mL) . The fermentation medium was adjusted to pH 7.0 by addition of concentrated NH₄OH before autoclaving. The following supplements were added immediately prior to initiation of the fermentation: D-glucose (20 g), MgS0₄ (0.24 g), and trace minerals including (NH₄)₆(Mo₇0₂₄) 4H₂0 (0.0037 g), ZnS0₄ 7H₂0 (0.0029 g), H₃B0₃ (0.0247 g), CuS0₄ 5H₂0 (0.0025 g), and MnCI₂ 4H₂0 (0.01 58 g) . D-Glucose and MgS0₄ were autoclaved separately while trace minerals were sterilized through 0.22 pm membranes prior to addition to the medium.

Genetic Manipulations. Standard procedures were used for the construction, purification, and analysis of plasmid DNA. Sambrook, J. et al., Molecular Cloning A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press: New York (1989). E. coli DH5σ served as the host strain for all plasmid constructions. The INOl open reading frame was amplified from pJH318 (Hirsch, J.P. et al., Mol. Cell. Biol. 6:3320 (1986)) using PCR. inclusion of EcoRI recognition sequences facilitated localization of INOl into the £coRI site in pJF118EH (Furste, J.P. et al., Gene 48:119 (1986)) to afford pAD1.45A. Transcription of INOl in pAD1.45 A utilized the vector-encoded tac promoter (P_rac) which was regulated by vector-encoded expression of lacP. Digestion of pD2625 with Dral and £coRV liberated a 1.9 kb serA fragment that was subsequently ligated into the Sma\ site of pAD1.45 A to provide pAD1.88A.

£. coli JWF1 was prepared by homologous recombination of a non-functional serA gene into £. coli RB79KW3110 lacT). Localization of the 1.9 kb serA fragment obtained from pD2625 into pMAK705 (Hamilton, CM. etal.,J. Bacteriol. 171 :4617 (1989)) provided pLZ1.68A. Linearization of pLZ1.68A at the unique Bam \ site internal to serA followed by treatment with Klenow fragment and dNTP's and relegation afforded pLZ1.71 A. Homologous recombination (Ohta, K. et al.,.4pp/. Environ. Microbiol. 57:893 (1991)) of the resulting non-functional serA locus of pLZ1.71A into RB791 afforded JWF1. myo-lnositol-1 -phosphate synthase activity. Partial purification of cellular lysate was required to quantify myo-inositol-l -phosphate synthase activity over background cellular phosphatase activity. Cells were collected from 30 mL of fermentation broth by centrifugation at 2000^ for 6 min at 4 °C. Cells were resuspended in 10 mL of resuspension buffer consisting of Tris HCl (20 mM), pH 7.4, NH₄CI (10 mM), 2-mercaptoethanol (ff-ME, 10 mM), phenylmethylsulphonyl fluoride (PMSF, 2 mM), and EDTA (1 mM). Resuspended cells were frozen at -80 °C for up to 4 days until purification was carried out.

Thawed cells were lysed by two passages through a French press at 2000 psi. Cellular debris was removed by centrifugation at 30000^ for 30 min at 4 °C. Clarified cellular lysate containing approximately 200 mg of protein was loaded onto a DEAE cellulose column (5 x 25 cm) at 4 °C. The column was eluted with a step gradient of NH₄CI in the following buffer (Buffer A): Tris HCl (20 mM), pH 7.4, β- ME (10 mM), PMSF (1 mM), and EDTA (1 mM). The step gradient consisted of 20 mL of Buffer A with NH₄CI (10 mM), 45 mL of Buffer A with NH₄CI (90 mM), and 100 mL of Buffer A with NH₄CI (150 mM). Fractions (9 mL) were collected throughout the step gradient. Fractions 10-18 were collected and concentrated to less than 5 mL using an Amicon Ultrafiltration Stirred Cell equipped with a PM 1 0 membrane Concentrated protein ( 1 5-2 0 mg) was used to measure myo-inositol- 1 -phosphate synthase activity The myo-ιnosιtol-1 -phosphate synthase activity was measured as previously reported (Migaud, M.E. et al., J Am Chem. Soc. 1 1 8:495 ( 1 996)) except that the assay solution contained Tπs HCl (20 mM), pH 7 4, NH₄CI (2 mM), and DTT (0.2 mM). myo-lnositol. Fermentations employed a 2.0 L working capacity B. Braun MD2 culture vessel. Utilities were supplied by a B. Braun Biostat MD controlled by a Dell Optiplex Gs ⁺ 51 66 personal computer equipped with B. Braun MFCS/Win software. Temperature, pH, and glucose feeding were controlled with PID control loops Temperature was maintained at 33 °C. pH was maintained at 7.0 by addition of concentrated NH₄OH or 2 N H₂S0₄. Dissolved oxygen (D.O.) was measured using a Mettler-Toledo 1 2 mm steπhzable 0₂ sensor fitted with an Ingold A-type 0₂ permeable membrane. D.O was maintained at 1 0% air saturation. Antifoam (Sigma 204) was added manually as needed.

Inoculants were started by introduction of a single colony of JWF1 /pAD 1 .88A into 1 00 mL M9 medium containing ampicillin. The culture was grown at 37 °C with agitation at 250 rpm for 1 5 h and then transferred to the fermentation vessel. The initial glucose concentration in the fermentation medium was 20 g/L. Three staged methods were used to maintain D.O . levels at 1 0% air saturation during each fermentor run. With the airflow at an initial setting of 0.06 L/L/min, D. O. concentration was maintained by increasing impeller speed from its initial set point of 50 rpm to its preset maximum of 940 rpm. Approximately 7 h was required for the impeller speed to increase to 940 rpm. With the impeller constant at 940 rpm, the mass flow controller then maintained D.O. levels by increasing the airflow rate from 0.06 L/L/min to its preset maximum of 1 .0 L/L/min over approximately 1 .5 h. At constant impeller speed and constant airflow rate, D O . levels were maintained at 1 0% saturation for the remainder of the fermentation by oxygen sensor-controlled glucose feeding. At the beginning of this stage, D. O. levels fell below 1 0% air saturation due to residual initial glucose in the medium. This lasted for approximately 50 mm before glucose (60% w/v) feeding started. The PID control parameters were set to 0.0 (off) for the derivative control (τ_D) and 999.9 s (minimum control action) for integral control (7",). X_p was set to 950% to achieve a K, of 0 1 . Samples (6 mL) of fermentation broth were taken at 6 h intervals starting at 1 2 h. lsopropyl- ?-D-thiogalactopyranoside (4.8 mg) was added when both the impeller speed and airflow had reached the maximum settings, and again at 1 2 h and every 6 h thereafter. Cell densities were determined by dilution of fermentation broth with water ( 1 : 1 00) followed by measurement of absorption at 600 nm (OD₆₀₀). Dry cell weight (g/L) was obtained using a conversion coefficient of 0.43 g/L/OD₆₀₀. Fermentation broth was centrifuged to remove cells. Solute concentrations in cell-free broth were determined by ¹ H NMR. Fermentation broth (30 mL) was removed at designated times for assay of myo-inositol-l -phosphate synthase activity. The final concentration of myo-inositol at 54 h was 20.9 g/L synthesized in 8.7 % yield (mol/mol) from glucose.

The fermentation broth (950-1 200 mL) was centrifuged at 1 8000# for 35 min at 4 °C and the cells discarded. The resulting supernatant was acidified to pH 2.0 with concentrated H₂S0₄ and then centrifuged at 1 8000# for 20 min to remove precipitated proteins. The clear yellow supernatant was neutralized with concentrated NH₄OH . The solution was decolorized with Darco KB-B activated carbon ( 10 g/L) for 4 h with agitation at 50 rpm and subsequently filtered through Whatman 2 filter paper. The filtered material was washed with an additional 200 mL of water. The combined filtrates were applied to a column of AG 1 -x8 (acetate form,

5 cm x 20 cm) at 4 °C and eluted with 1 L H₂0. The entire eluent (approximately 2.3 L) was then run through a column of Dowex 50 (H ⁺ form, 5 cm x 20 cm) at 4 °C and eluted with 500 mL H₂0. The resulting solution (approximately 2.8 L) was concentrated to 200 mL by boiling and then concentrated to dryness under reduced pressure. The resulting powder was dissolved in a minimal volume of H₂0, diluted with 6 volumes of MeOH, and stored at 4 °C to crystallize. Crystals were collected after a few days, washed with MeOH, allowed to air dry overnight, and dried under vacuum to yield white crystals (78 % recovery based on inositol quantified in crude fermentation broth) . ⁿ H NMR (D₂0) r5 4.06 (dd, J= 3, 3 Hz, 1 H), 3.61 (dd, J= 1 0, 9 Hz, 2 H), 3.53 (ddd, J= 1 0, 3, 1 Hz, 2 H), 3.28 (ddd, J= 9, 9, 1 Hz, 1 H) . ¹³C NMR (D₂0) δ 45.3, 43.4, 43.2, 42.1 . myo-2-lnosose. Angyal, S.J. et al. Carbohydr. Res. 76: 1 21 ( 1 979); Posternak, T., Biochem. Prep. 2:57 (1 952). A solution containing sorbitol (1 .0 g) and yeast extract (0.05 g) in 1 0 mL distilled, deionized water was autoclaved for 25 min and cooled to room temperature. After inoculation with Gluconobacter oxydans ATCC 621 the culture was incubated in an orbital shaker at 200 rpm for 24 h at 30 ° C . This G. oxydans culture was subsequently added to a second sterile solution containing myo-inositol ( 1 2.0 g, 66.7 mmol), D-sorbitol (0.4 g), and yeast extract (2.0 g) in 400 mL distilled, deionized water. After incubation in an orbital shaker at 200 rpm for 48 h at 30 °C, cells were removed by centrifugation. The resulting culture supernatant was concentrated to 75 mL, MeOH (400 mL) added, and the solution maintained at -20 °C for 1 2 h. Precipitate which formed was filtered, washed with MeOH, and dried to afford /τ-. yo-2-inosose as a white powder (8.1 7 g, 69%) . A second crop of /r?yo-2-inosose (3.09 g, 26%) was obtained after maintaining the filtrate at -20 °C for an additional 1 2 h. mp 1 88 -1 92 °C. ¹ H NMR (D₂0) : £ 4.25 (d, J = 1 0 Hz, 2 H), 3.66 (dd, J = 9, 9 Hz), 3.26 (m, 2 H) . ¹³C NMR (D₂0) : δ 206.0, 94.3, 76.2, 74.5 , 74.1 , 74.0, 73.3, 73.2.

7 ,2,3,4-Tetrahydroxybenzene 7. A solution of myo-2-inosose ( 1 1 .0 g, 61 .2 mmol) in 31 0 mL of degassed 0.5 M H₂S0₄ was refluxed under Ar. After 9 h, the solution was cooled to 4 °C and then adjusted to pH 4 by addition of saturated aqueous NaHC0₃. Concentration of the reaction solution to 1 00 mL was followed by continuous liquid-liquid extraction for 1 8 h using t-butyl methyl ether (500 mL). Upon concentration of the organic layer to 1 00 mL, a precipitate formed which was filtered, washed with cold hexanes, and dried to afford 1 (4.72 g, 54%) as a tan powder. Addition of hexanes (300 mL) to the filtrate followed by filtering, washing, and drying of the resulting precipitate afforded additional 1 ( 1 .08 g, 1 2%). mp 1 62 - 1 64 °C. ¹ H NMR (^-acetone): δ 7.24 (s, 4 H), 6.20 (s, 2 H). ¹³C NMR (d₆- acetone): δ 1 39.7, 1 34.7, 1 06.2. Anal. Calcd for C₆H₆0₄: C, 50.71 ; H, 4.23. Found: C, 50.63; H, 4.32. HRMS (FAB) calcd for C₆H₆0₄ (M + H ⁺ ) : 1 42.0266. Found: 1 42.0268.

SPECIFIC EXAMPLE 2 Chemical Synthesis Of 1 ,2,3,4-Tetrahydroxybenzene I . Results

Conversion of D-glucose into 1 ,2,3,4-tetrahydroxybenzene 1 is a three step synthesis. 1 ,2,3,4-Tetrahydroxybenzene 1 has historically been obtained from pyrogallol 6 by a longer route (Figure 4) involving synthesis and subsequent hydrolysis of aminopyrogallol 7. Leston, G., In Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology: Fourth Ed., Kroschwitz, J.I. et al. Ed., Wiley: New York, Vol. 1 9, p. 778 ( 1 996); Einhorn, A. et al., Ber. 37 : 1 1 0 ( 1 904) . Due to the tedious nature of this synthesis (Einhorn, A. et al., Ber. 37 : 1 1 0 ( 1 904)), two alternate routes (Figure 4) were developed to obtain authentic samples of 1 ,2,3,4- tetrahydroxybenzene 1 . Low-yielding, direct hydroxylation of protected pyrogallol 8 or higher-yielding, indirect oxidation via formyl 10 intermediacy yielded, respectively, quinone 9 and phenol 1 1 . Hydrogenation of 9 and 1 1 afforded products which were identical to 1 ,2,3,4-tetrahydroxybenzene 1 synthesized (Figure 2) from D-glucose. II . Materials And Methods

General. ¹H NMR spectra were recorded on a 300 MHz spectrometer. Chemical shifts for NMR spectra are reported (in parts per million) relative to internal tetramethylsilane (Me₄Si, δ - 0.0 ppm) with CDCI₃ as solvent, to sodium 3-(trimethylsilyl)propionate-2,2,3,3-d₄ (TSP, δ = 0.0 ppm) when D₂0 was the solvent, and to acetone (CHD₂COCD₃, δ = 2.04 ppm) with <-/₆-acetone. ¹³C NMR spectra were recorded at 75 MHz. Chemical shifts for ¹³C NMR spectra are reported (in parts per million) relative to CDCI₃ (δ = 77.0 ppm), relative to CD₃COCD₃ (δ = 29.8 ppm), and relative to internal CH₃0H (δ = 49.0 ppm) or internal CH₃CN (δ = 1 .4 ppm) in D₂0. FAB mass spectra were performed by University of South Carolina (Columbia, SC) . Elemental analyses were performed by Atlantic Microlab inc. (Norcross, GA) . Melting points were uncorrected and were determined using a Mel-Temp II melting point apparatus. Radial chromatography was carried out with a Harrison Associates

Chromatotron using 1 , 2 or 4 mm layers of silica gel 60 PF₂₅₄ containing gypsum (E. Merck) . Silica gel 60 (40 - 63 pm E. Merck) was used for flash chromatography. Analytical thin-layer chromatography (TLC) utilized precoated plates of silica gel 60 F-254 (0.25 mm, E. Merck or Whatman) . TLC plates were visualized by immersion in anisaldehyde stain (by volume: 93% ethanol, 3.5 % sulfuric acid, 1 % acetic acid and 2.5 % anisaldehyde) followed by heating. Dimethylformamide, N- methylformanilide and acetone were dried and stored over activated Linde 4A molecular sieves under Ar. Tetrahydrofuran and diethyl ether were distilled under nitrogen from sodium benzophenone ketyl. r?-Hexanes and TMEDA were distilled from sodium under Ar and stored over activated Linde 4A molecular sieves under Ar. Organic solutions of products were dried over MgS0₄.

Hydrogenation of 2,3-dibenzyloxy- 1 ,4-benzoquinone 9. A solution of 9 (0.1 8 g, 0.56 mmol) in EtOH (7.0 mL) was stirred with 10 % Pd on C (0.050 g) at room temperature under H₂ ( 1 .0 atm) for 3 h. The solution was filtered through Celite ^Φ and concentrated to afford a tan solid (0.079 g, 99 %) which was identical by ¹H and ¹³C NMR to 1 obtained from 7?yo-2-inosose. Hydrogenation of 2,3,4- tribenzyloxyphenol 11. A solution of 11 (5.8 g, 14.1 mmol) in EtOH (100 L) was stirred with 10% Pd on C (1.0 g) at room temperature under H₂ (1.0 atm) for 2 h. The solution was filtered through Celite⁰ and concentrated. The residue was purified by flash chromatography (MeOH/CH₂CI₂, 1 :9, v/v) affording a product which was identical by H and ¹³C NMR to 1 obtained from myo-2-inosose.

1 ,2,3-Tribenzyloxybenzene 8. Lowe, W. et al., Arch. Pharm. (Weinheim) 327:255 (1994). Benzyl bromide (57 mL, 0.481 mol) and then K₂C0₃ (100 g, 0.725 mol) were added to a solution of pyrogallol (20 g, 0.159 mol) in 200 mL dry, degassed acetone under Ar. This reaction mixture was subsequently stirred for 30 min at room temperature and then for 24 h at reflux under Ar. A solution of NaOH (1.6 g) in MeOH (32 mL) was then added and the reaction refluxed for an additional 30 min. After cooling to room temperature, solids were filtered and washed with acetone. The filtrate was concentrated and the residue recrystallized from MeOH to afford 8 (52 g, 83%) as an off-white solid, mp 67 - 68 °C. ^Λ NMR (CDCI₃): δ 7.44-7.19 (m, 15 H), 6.85 (dd, J = 9, 9 Hz, 1 H), 6.57 (d, J = 8.2 Hz, 2 H),

5.05 (s, 2 H), 5.02 (s, 4 H). ¹³C NMR (CDCI₃): δ 152.9, 138.4, 137.8, 137.0,

128.4, 128.3, 128.0, 127.8, 127.6(2), 127.3, 127.2, 123.5, 107.7,75.0,70.9.

2,3-Dibenzyloxy-l ,4-benzoquinone 9. To a solution of 1,2,3- tribenzyloxybenzene 8 (2.0 g, 5.0 mmol) in HOAc (30 mL), K₃Fe(CN)₆ (0.82 g, 2.5 mmol) and 30% H₂0₂ (1.3 g, 11.5 mmol) were added and the resulting solution stirred at room temperature for 18 h. The solution was diluted with 50 mL CH₂CI₂ and the organic layer subsequently washed with H₂0, saturated aqueous NaHC0₃ and brine. Drying and concentration resulted in a red oil. Purification by radial chromatography (2 mm thickness, EtOAc/hexane, 1:19, v/v) afforded 9 as a red oil. 'H NMR (CDCI₃): δ 7.36-7.32 (m, 10 H), 6.58 (s, 2 H), 5.20 (s, 4 H). ¹³C NMR (CDCI₃): δ 184.1, 145.2, 136.1, 134.6 128.5, 128.4, 128.1, 75.1. Anal. Calcd forC₂₀H₁₆O₄: C, 74.99; H, 5.03. Found: C, 75.04; H, 5.06. HRMS (FAB) calcd for C₂₀H₁₆O₄ (M + H ⁺ ): 320.1049. Found: 320.1059. 2,3,4-Tribenzyloxybenzaldehyde 70. Kolonits, P. et al., - cta Chim. Hung.

113:367 (1983). POCI₃ (155 mL, 1.66 mol) was slowly added to N- methylformanilide (175 mL, 1.4 mol) at room temperature under Ar which resulted in formation of a yellow solid. After 2 h, the solid was treated with a solution of 1 ,2,3-tribenzyloxybenzene 8 (20 g, 51 mmol) in anhydrous DMF (40 mL) and heated to 60 °C. After 3 h, the resulting crimson solution was cooled to room temperature and then poured into ice water (3 L) with vigorous stirring for 12 h. The resulting brown precipitate was filtered, washed with hexanes (3 x 100 mL) and finally recrystallized from MeOH to afford 10 (19.8 g, 93%) as a white powder, mp 73 - 74 °C. ¹H NMR (CDCI₃): δ 10.11 (s, 1 H), 7.57 (d, J = 9 Hz, 1 H), 7.44- 7.28 (m, 15 H), 6.83 (d, J = 9 Hz, 1 H), 5.21 (s, 2 H), 5.16 (s, 2 H), 5.08 (s, 2 H); ¹³C NMR (CDCI₃): δ 188.8, 158.5, 155.9, 141.1, 136.9, 136.2, 135.8, 128.6, 128.5 (2), 128.3 (2), 128.2, 127.5, 124.0, 109.1,76.8, 75.5,70.9. Anal. Calcd for C₂₈H₂₄0₄: C, 79.22; H, 5.70. Found: C, 79.17; H, 5.80. HRMS (FAB) calcd for C₂₈H₂₄0₄ (M + H ⁺ ): 424.1675. Found: 424.1669. 2,3,4-Tribenzyloxyphenol 11. Kolonits, P. et a\.,Acta Chim Hung. 113:367

(1983). A solution of 30% H₂0₂ (6 mL, 57.8 mmol) and 85% formic acid (32 mL, 600 mmol) was added dropwise to a solution of 2,3,4-tribenzyloxybenzaldehyde 10 (9.8 g, 23.1 mmol) in CH₂CI₂ (50 mL) over 30 min at 0 °C. After 1 h of stirring at 0 °C, the reaction was stirred at room temperature for 24 h. The reaction was subsequently cooled to 4 °C and diluted with 10% (w/v) aqueous Na₂S0₃ (50 mL). The aqueous phase was washed with CH₂CI₂ (3 x 40 mL). Drying and concentration afforded a brown oil which was dissolved in a methanolic solution of NaOMe (30 mL, 0.1 N) and refluxed. After 10 min, the solution was cooled to 4 °C and acidified with 6 N HCl. MeOH was removed in vacuo. The mixture was diluted with H₂0 (15 mL) followed by extraction of the aqueous phase with benzene (3 x 40 mL). Drying and concentration afforded 11 (9.0 g, 95%) as a brown oil. ¹H NMR (CDCI₃): δ 7.45 - 7.31 (m, 15 H), 6.65 (d, J = 9 Hz, 1 H), 6.58 (d, J = 9 Hz, 1 H), 5.28 (s, 1 H), 5.12 (s, 2 H), 5.11 (s, 2 H), 5.04 (s, 2 H). ¹³C NMR (CDCI₃): δ 146.0, 144.0, 142.0, 139.6, 137.3, 137.1, 136.8, 128.4, 128.3 (2), 128.2, 127.9, 127.7, 127.4, 110.4, 109.0, 75.6, 75.3, 71.7. Anal. Calcd for C₂₇H₂₄0₄: C, 78.62; H, 5.87. Found: C, 78.71; H, 5.86. HRMS (FAB) calcd for C₂₇H₂₄0₄ (M + H ⁺ ): 412.1675. Found: 412.1673.

SPECIFIC EXAMPLE 3 Synthesis Of Coenzyme Q From 1,2,3,4-Tetrahydroxybenzene I. Results

Variations in strategies employed for hydroxyl protection combined with the ease of metallation and alkylation of the aromatic nucleus makes 1 a versatile intermediate for the synthesis of a wide spectrum of naturally-occurring 1,2,3,4- tetrahydroxybenzene derivatives. For example, permethylation (Figure 5) of 1 leads to tetramethyl 12 which undergoes facile lithiation and methylation affording 13 in high yield. Formation of an organocuprate from 13, farnesylation, and subsequent reaction with (NH₄)₂Ce(N0₃)₆ affords coenzyme Q_{n = 3} 4 This four-step synthesis of coenzyme Q_n from tetrahydroxybenzene 1 is equal in length to the shortest reported (Keinan, E. et al. , J Org Chem. 52.3872 ( 1 987)) synthesis of coenzyme Q_n which uses p-cresol as a starting material and substantially shorter than syntheses of coenzyme Q_n from pyrogallol, gallic acid, or vanillin. Syper, L. et al , Tetrahedron 36: 1 23 ( 1 980); Sugihara, H. et al., Liebigs Ann. Chem. 763: 1 09 ( 1 972); Mayer, J. et al., Meth. Enzymol. 1 8: 1 82 (1 971 ).

Only one oxygen atom in coenzyme Q_n, a shikimate pathway product, is directly derived from D-glucose. The remaining oxygen atoms are derived from 0₂ via enzyme-catalyzed hydroxylations Tπhydroxybenzenes, pyrogallol, and phloroglucinol possess the maximum number of oxygen atoms attached to a benzene nucleus by the shikimate pathway or polyketide biosynthesis in lieu of enzyme-catalyzed hydroxylation. At least a dozen enzymes are required to disassemble and reassemble the carbon atoms of D-glucose into the benzene nucleus of coenzyme Q_n, pyrogallols, and phloroglucinols. By comparison, synthesis of 1 ,2,3,4-tetrahydroxybenzene 1 via myo-inositol intermediacy requires only four enzymes and an acid-catalyzed dehydration for all six carbon and all four oxygen atoms to be directly derived from the carbon and oxygen atoms of D- glucose. The method of the present invention for synthesis of 1 ,2,3,4- tetrahydroxybenzene 1 is thus a useful example of enzyme and atom (Trost, B.M., In Green Chemistry, Anastas, P T., Williamson, T.C. Eds., Oxford: New York, Chap 6 ( 1 998)) economy in organic synthesis in addition to being a significant strategic departure from previous biocatalytic syntheses of aromatic chemicals from D- glucose.

II. Materials And Methods

General ' H NMR spectra were recorded on a 300 MHz spectrometer Chemical shifts for Y\ NMR spectra are reported (in parts per million) relative to internal tetramethylsilane (Me₄Sι, δ = 0.0 ppm) with CDCI₃ as solvent, to sodium 3-(trιmethylsιlyl)propιonate-2,2,3,3-d₄ (TSP, δ = 0.0 ppm) when D₂0 was the solvent, and to acetone (CHD₂C0CD₃, δ = 2.04 ppm) with d_ff-acetone ¹³C NMR spectra were recorded at 75 MHz Chemical shifts for ¹³C NMR spectra are reported (in parts per million) relative to CDCI₃ (δ = 77 0 ppm), relative to CD₃C0CD₃ (δ = 29.8 ppm), and relative to internal CH₃0H [δ = 49.0 ppm) or internal CH₃CN ((. = 1 4 ppm) in D₂0 FAB mass spectra were performed by University of South Carolina (Columbia, SC) . Elemental analyses were performed by Atlantic Microlab Inc. (Norcross, GA) . Melting points were uncorrected and were determined using a Mel-Temp II melting point apparatus.

Radial chromatography was carried out with a Harrison Associates Chromatotron using 1 , 2 or 4 mm layers of silica gel 60 PF₂₅₄ containing gypsum (E. Merck) . Silica gel 60 (40 - 63 pm E. Merck) was used for flash chromatography. Analytical thin-layer chromatography (TLC) utilized precoated plates of silica gel 60 F-254 (0.25 mm, E. Merck or Whatman). TLC plates were visualized by immersion in anisaldehyde stain (by volume: 93 % ethanol, 3.5 % sulfuric acid, 1 % acetic acid and 2.5 % anisaldehyde) followed by heating. Dimethylformamide, N- methylformanilide and acetone were dried and stored over activated Linde 4A molecular sieves under Ar. Tetrahydrofuran and diethyi ether were distilled under nitrogen from sodium benzophenone ketyl . /7-Hexanes and TMEDA were distilled from sodium under Ar and stored over activated Linde 4A molecular sieves under Ar. Organic solutions of products were dried over MgS0₄.

1 ,2,3,4-Tetramethoxybenzene 12. Syper, L. et al., Tetrahedron 36: 1 23 ( 1 980) . A solution of 1 ,2,3,4-tetrahydroxybenzene 1 (8.4 g, 59 mmol) and dimethyl sulfate (37.5 mL, 0.396 mol) in EtOH (21 mL) was added dropwise to an 8.5 M aqueous solution of NaOH (42 mL) over 20 min at room temperature. After 2 h, the reaction was diluted with H₂0 (300) mL and cooled to -20 °C for 1 2 h. The resulting precipitate was filtered, washed with H₂0, and then recrystallized from hexanes to afford 12 (8.1 2 g, 69%) as colorless needles, mp 84 - 85 °C. ¹ H NMR (CDCI₃): δ 6.58 (s, 2 H), 3.90 (s, 6 H) 3.82 (s, 6 H). ¹³C NMR (CDCI₃): δ 1 47.7, 1 43.3, 1 06.3, 61 .1 , 56.3. Anal. Calcd for C₁₀H₁₄O₄: C, 60.59; H, 7.1 2. Found: C, 60.44; H, 7.07.

2,3,4,5-Tetramethoxytoluene 13. Syper, L. et al., Tetrahedron 36: 1 23 ( 1 980) . To a solution of 1 ,2,3,4-tetramethoxybenzene 12 (4.0 g, 20.2 mmol) and TMEDA (6 mL, 38.0 mmol) in hexanes (44 mL) and THF (80 mL) at 0 °C under Ar, n-Bu in hexane ( 1 .6 M, 25.6 mmol) was added dropwise over a 1 0 min period and the reaction stirred for 30 min at 0 °C under Ar. Subsequent to dropwise addition of CH₃I (20 mL, 1 60 mmol) over an 8 min period, the reaction was stirred for 3 h at 0 °C under Ar and then quenched by addition of aqueous NH₄CI and ether (20 mL). The organic layer was sequentially washed with concentrated NH₄OH, water, and brine. Drying and concentration of the organic layer was followed by purification of the residue by flash chromatography (hexanes, hexanes/EtOAc, 1 9: 1 , v/v) to afford 13 as a clear oil (3.6 g, 83%). ¹H NMR (CDCI₃): δ 6.45 (s, 1 H), 3.93 (s, 3 H), 3.87 (s, 3 H), 3.82 (s, 3 H), 3.79 (s, 3 H), 2.23 (s, 3 H).¹³C NMR (CDCI₃): δ 149.0, 146.9, 145.3, 140.7, 125.7, 108.2, 61.0, 60.9, 60.5, 55.9, 15.7.

Protected coenzyme Q₃14. Keinan, E. et al., J. Org. Chem. 52:3872 (1987). π-BuLi (1.6 M, 0.9 mL) was added dropwise over a 15 min period to a solution of 1,2,3,4-tetramethoxytoluene 13 (0.212 g, 1 mmol) and TMEDA (0.3 mL, 1.9 mmol) in hexane (2.2 mL) at 0 °C under Ar. This yellow precipitate- containing reaction mixture was then stirred at 0 °C under Ar for 30 min, diluted with THF (4 mL) and ether (11 mL), followed by addition of CuCN (0.125 g, 1.4 mmol). After stirring for 30 min at 0 °C under Ar, the temperature was reduced to -78 °C, and a solution of farnesyl bromide (0.285 g, 1 mmol) in hexane (2 mL) was dropwise added over a 30 min period. Further reaction for 3 h at -78 °C and subsequent slow warming to room temperature was followed by addition of saturated aqueous NH₄CI ( 10 mL) and ether (20 mL). Washing the organic phase with concentrated NH₄OH, water, and brine was followed by drying and concentration. Purification of the residue by radial chromatography (2 mm thickness, hexane/EtOAc, 9:1, v/v) afforded 14 as a clear oil (0.236 g, 57%). ¹H NMR (CDCI₃): δ 5.12-5.01 (m, 3 H), 3.90 (s, 6 H), 3.78 (s, 6 H), 3.32 (d, J = 7 Hz, 2 H), 2.14 (s, 3 H), 2.08-1.91 (m, 8 H), 1.77 (s, 3 H), 1.66 (s, 3 H), 1.58 (s, 6 H). ¹³C NMR (CDCI₃): δ 147.8, 147.6, 144.9, 144.6, 135.0, 134.9, 131.2, 129.2, 125.4, 124.3, 124.1, 122.8, 61.1, 60.6, 39.7, 26.7, 26.5, 25.7, 25.6, 17.6, 16.2, 15.9, 11.7.

Coenzyme Q₃4. Keinan, E. et al., J. Org. Chem. 52:3872 (1987). A suspension maintained atO °C resulting from addition of pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylate (0.125 g, 0.75 mmol) to a solution of protected coenzyme Q₃14 in CH₃CN (1.4 mL) and water (0.6 mL) at 0 °C was reacted with a 0 °C solution of (NH₄)₂Ce(N0₃)₆ (0.411 g, 0.75 mmol) in CH₃CN (0.4 mL) and water (0.4 mL) added dropwise over a 10 min period. After 40 min at 0 °C, the reaction was warmed to room temperature and stirred for 20 min. Water (10 mL) was added to the reaction mixture and the resulting solution extracted with CH₂CI₂ (3x 100 mL). The combined organic phases were dried, concentrated, and purified by radial chromatography (1 mm thickness, hexane/EtOAc, 19:1 , v/v) to afford 4 (0.053 g, 46%) as an orange oil. ¹H NMR (CDCI₃): δ 5.07 (dd, J = 7 , 7 Hz, 1 H), 5.05 (dd, J = 7, 7 Hz, 1 H), 4.94 (dd, J = 7 , 7 Hz, 1 H), 3.99 (s, 3 H), 3.98 (s, 3 H), 3.18 (d, J = 6.8 Hz, 2 H), 2.08-1.91 (m, 8 H), 2.01 (s, 3 H), 1.74 (s, 3 H), 1.67 (s, 3 H), 1 .59 (s, 3 H), 1 .58 (s, 3 H); ¹³C NMR (CDCI₃) : < 84.7, 1 83.9, 144.3, 144.2, 141 .6, 1 38.8, 1 37.6, 1 35.2, 1 31 .3, 1 24.3, 1 23.8, 1 1 8.8, 61 .1 , 39.7, 26.7, 26.4, 25.7, 25.3, 1 7.6, 1 6.3, 1 6.0, 1 1 .9; HRMS (FAB) calcd for C₂₄H₃₄0₄ (M + H ⁺ ): 386.2457. Found: 386.2461 SPECIFIC EXAMPLE 4

Synthesis Of /Wyo-2-lnosose By A Single Microbe yo-2-inosose ( 1 g/L), myo-inositol ( 1 8 g/L), and /τ. yo-inositol-1 -phosphate (3.1 g/L) were synthesized by £. co//^'JWF1 /pAD2.28A in 9.6% (mol/mol) yield from glucose under fed-batch fermentation conditions as described in Specific Example 1 . The fermentation ran for 54 h with incremental addition of IPTG (0.0048 g added each time) at 7 h, 1 2 h, 1 8 h, 24 h, 30 h, 36 h, 42 h, 48 h, and 54 h. The myo-2-inosose can then be converted to 1 ,2,3,4-tetrahydroxybenzene by acid- catalyzed dehydration as described in Specific Example 1 .

Plasmid pAD2.28A carries INO l under P_tgc promoter control, io/G under P_lac promoter control, lacl^q , and serA. INO l encodes myo-inositol-1 -phosphate synthase and was cloned out of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Inositol dehydrogenase is encoded by the io/G locus, which was cloned out of Bacillus subtilis.

SPECIFIC EXAMPLE 5 Conversion Of 1 ,2,3,4-Tetrahydroxybenzene To Pyrogallol A solution consisting of 0.4 g of NaOH ( 1 0 mmol) dissolved in 1 0 mL H₂0 was freeze-thaw degassed three times under Ar. This solution was then added via cannula under Ar to a 250 mL Parr bottle containing 1 ,2,3,4-tetrahydroxybenzene ( 1 .42 g, 1 0 mmol) and 5 % Rh/Al₂0₃ (0.25 g), which had been flushed with Ar and then sealed with a septum. The resulting red/brown solution was hydrogenated under 50 psi. H₂ using a Parr Hydrogenator. After 1 2 h, the solution was filtered through Celite^® and the catalyst rinsed with 1 0 mL H₂0. The resulting dark brown solution was adjusted to pH = 6.0 with 1 0% HCl and then concentrated to a brown oil. The oil was dissolved in 50 mL 0.5 M H₂S0₄ that had been degassed by aeration with Ar for 20 minutes. The solution was heated to reflux under Ar for 1 2 h, cooled to room temperature, and then extracted with Et₂0 (4 x 50 mL) . The combined organic layers were dried over MgS0₄, filtered and concentrated to a brown oil. Kugel-Rohr distillation of the oil under vacuum ( 1 mm Hg) at 90 °C afforded 0.56 g pyrogallol (4.44 mmol, 44% yield) as a white, crystalline solid.

The foregoing discussion discloses and describes merely exemplary embodiments of the present invention. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from such discussion, and from the accompanying drawings and claims, that various changes, modifications and variations can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

All references cited herein are incorporated by reference as if fully set forth.

Claims

WE CLAIM:

1 . A method for the production of 1 ,2,3,4-tetrahydroxybenzene and derivatives thereof from a carbon source, comprising the steps of: a) converting the carbon source to myo-inositol with a first recombinant microbe; b) converting the myo-inositol to /77yo-2-inosose with a second microbe; and c) converting the /7iyo-2-inosose to 1 ,2,3,4-tetrahydroxybenzene by acid catalyzed dehydration.

2. The method of Claim 1 , wherein the first recombinant microbe comprises the gene encoding /τ. yo-inositol-1 -phosphate synthase.

3. The method of Claim 2, wherein the gene encoding myo-inositol-1 - phosphate synthase is a S. cerevisiae INO l gene.

4. The method of Claim 3, wherein the S. cerevisiae INO l gene is located on a plasmid in the recombinant microbe.

5. The method of Claim 4, wherein the plasmid is pAD 1 .88A.

6. The method of Claim 1 , wherein the first recombinant microbe is E. coli JWF1 /pAD 1 .88A.

7. The method of Claim 1 , wherein the second microbe expresses inositol dehydrogenase activity.

8. The method of Claim 1 , wherein the second microbe is Gluconobacter oxydans.

9. The method of Claim 8, wherein the Gluconobacter oxydans is Gluconobacter oxydans ATCC 621 .

1 0. The method of Claim 1 , wherein the second microbe is a recombinant microbe comprising the gene for inositol dehydrogenase.

1 1 . The method of Claim 1 0, wherein the gene for inositol dehydrogenase is a Bacillus subtilis io/G gene.

1 2. The method of Claim 1 , wherein the carbon source is glucose.

1 3. The method of Claim 1 , further comprising the step of reducing the 1 ,2, 3, -tetrahydroxybenzene to 1 ,2,3-trihydroxybenzene.

14. A method of producing 1 ,2,3,4-tetrahydroxybenzene and derivatives thereof from a carbon source comprising the steps of : a) converting the carbon source to myo-inositol with a recombinant £. coli comprising the gene encoding myo-inositol-1 -phosphate synthase; b) converting the myo-inositol to myo-2-inosose with a microbe that expresses inositol dehydrogenase activity; and c) converting the myo-2-inosose to 1 ,2,3,4-tetrahydroxybenzene by acid catalyzed dehydration.

1 5. The method of Claim 1 4, wherein the gene encoding myo-inositol-1 - phosphate synthase is the S. cerevisiae INO l gene.

1 6. The method of Claim 1 5, wherein the INO l gene is located on a plasmid in the recombinant £. coli.

1 7. The method of Claim 1 6, wherein the plasmid is pAD 1 .88A.

1 8. The method of Claim 1 4, wherein the recombinant £. coli is £. coli JWF1 /pAD 1 .88A.

1 9. The method of Claim 1 4, wherein the carbon source is glucose.

20. A method for the production of 1 ,2,3,4-tetrahydroxybenzene and derivatives thereof from a carbon source, comprising the steps of: a) converting the carbon source to myo-2-inosose with a recombinant microbe; and b) converting the myo-2-inosose to 1 ,2,3,4-tetrahydroxybenzene by acid catalyzed dehydration.

21 . The method of Claim 20, wherein the recombinant microbe comprises the genes encoding for myo-inositol-1 -phosphate synthase and inositol dehydrogenase.

22. The method of Claim 21 , wherein the gene encoding for yσ-inositol-

1 -phosphate synthase is a Saccharomyces cerevisiae IN01 gene.

23. The method of Claim 22, wherein the IN01 gene is located on a plasmid in the recombinant microbe.

24. The method of Claim 23, wherein the plasmid is pAD2.28A.

25. The method of Claim 21 , wherein the gene encoding for inositol dehydrogenase is an io/G gene.

26. The method of Claim 25, wherein the io/G gene is a Bacillus subtilis io/G gene.

27. The method of Claim 25, wherein the io/G gene is located on a plasmid in the recombinant microbe.

28. The method of Claim 27, wherein the plasmid is pAD2.28A.

29. The method of Claim 20, wherein the recombinant microbe is JWF1 /pAD2.28A.

30. A method of producing 1 ,2,3,4-tetrahydroxybenzene and derivatives thereof from a carbon source comprising the steps of: a) converting the carbon source to myo-2-inosose with a recombinant £. coli comprising the genes encoding for myo- 1 -phosphate synthase and inositol dehydrogenase; and b) converting the myo-2-inosose to 1 ,2,3,4-tetrahydroxybenzene by acid catalyzed dehydration.

31 . The method of Claim 30, wherein the gene encoding for myo-inositol- 1 -phosphate synthase is the S. cerevisiae INO l gene.

32. The method of Claim 30, wherein the gene encoding for inositol dehydrogenase is the Bacillus subtilis io/G gene.

33. The method of Claim 30, wherein the recombinant £. coli is JWF1 /pAD2.28A.

34. A method for the production of 1 ,2,3-trihydroxybenzene and derivatives thereof from a carbon source, comprising the steps of: a) converting the carbon source to myo-inositol with a first recombinant microbe; b) converting the myo-inositol to myo-2-inosose with a second microbe; c) converting the myo-2-inosose to 1 ,2,3,4-tetrahydroxybenzene by acid catalyzed dehydration; and d) red u ci n g the 1 , 2 , 3 , 4-tetra hyd roxybenzen e to 1 , 2 , 3- trihydroxybenzene.

35. The method of Claim 34, wherein the first recombinant microbe comprises the gene encoding myo-inositol-1 -phosphate synthase.

36. The method of Claim 35 , wherein the gene encoding myo-inositol-1 - phosphate synthase is the S. cerevisiae INO l gene.

37. The method of Claim 36, wherein the S. cerevisiae INO l gene is located on a plasmid in the recombinant microbe.

38. The method of Claim 37, wherein the plasmid is pAD 1 .88A.

39. The method of Claim 34, wherein the first recombinant microbe is £. coli JWF1 /pAD 1 .88A.

40. The method of Claim 34, wherein the second microbe expresses inositol dehydrogenase activity.

41 . The method of Claim 34, wherein the second microbe is Gluconobacter oxydans.

42. The method of Claim 41 , wherein the Gluconobacter oxydans is Gluconobacter oxydans ATCC 621 .

43. The method of Claim 34, wherein the carbon source is glucose.

44. The method of Claim 34, wherein the 1 ,2,3,4-tetrahydroxybenzene is reduced to 1 ,2,3-trihydroxybenzene by catalytic hydrogenation and acid catalyzed hydrolysis.

45. The method of Claim 44, wherein the catalytic hydrogenation uses Rh/Al₂0₃ as the catalyst.

46. A method for the production of 1 ,2,3-trihydroxybenzene and derivatives thereof from a carbon source, comprising the steps of : a) converting the carbon source to myo-2-inosose with a recombinant microbe; b) converting the myo-2-inosose to 1 ,2,3,4-tetrahydroxybenzene by acid catalyzed dehydration; and c) red u c i n g th e 1 , 2 , 3 , 4-tetra hyd roxybe nzene to 1 , 2 , 3- trihydroxybenzene.

47. The method of Claim 46, wherein the recombinant microbe comprises the genes encoding for myo-inositol-1 -phosphate synthase and inositol dehydrogenase.

48. The method of Claim 47, wherein the gene encoding for myo-inositol- 1 -phosphate synthase is a Saccharomyces cerevisiae IN01 gene.

49. The method of Claim 48, wherein the IN01 gene is located on a plasmid in the recombinant microbe.

50. The method of Claim 49, wherein the plasmid is pAD2.28A.

51 . The method of Claim 47, wherein the gene encoding for inositol dehydrogenase is an io/G gene.

52. The method of Claim 51 , wherein the io/G gene is a Bacillus subtilis io/G gene.

53. The method of Claim 51 , wherein the io/G gene is located on a plasmid in the recombinant microbe.

54. The method of Claim 53, wherein the plasmid is pAD2.28A.

55. The method of Claim 46, wherein the recombinant microbe is JWF1 /pAD2.28A.

56. The method of Claim 34, wherein the 1 ,2,3,4-tetrahydroxybenzene is converted to 1 ,2,3-trihydroxybenzene by catalytic hydrogenation and acid catalyzed hydrolysis.

57. The method of Claim 56, wherein the catalytic hydrogenation uses Rh/Al₂0₃ as the catalyst.