Conversion of the covalent intermediate 3-fluoro-2-phospho-lactyl-EPTase to 3-fluoro-2-phospholactyl-UDP-GlcNAc

The 3-fluoro-2-phospholactyl-UDP-GlcNAc enolpyruvyl transferase (EPTase) intermediate is prepared by the incubation of 3-fluorophosphoenolpyruvate (3-FPEP) and -UDP-GlcNAc with “PEPfree” UDP-GlcNAc enolpyruvyl transferase (EPTase). This intermediate is converted directly into the 3-fluoro-2-phospholactyl-UDP-GlcNAc intermediate by incubation with UDP-GlcNAc. Utilization of UDP- NAc as substrate results in the formation of two fluoro-containing tetrahedral intermediates but in a ratio different from that seen with UDP-GlcNAc.