Total Biosynthesis of Legionaminic Acid, a Bacterial Sialic Acid Analogue

Legionaminic acid, Leg5,7Ac2, a nonulosonic acid like 5‐acetamido neuraminic acid (Neu5Ac, sialic acid), is found in cell surface glycoconjugates of bacteria including the pathogens Campylobacter jejuni, Acinetobacter baumanii and Legionella pneumophila. The presence of Leg5,7Ac2 has been correlated with virulence in humans by mechanisms that likely involve subversion of the host's immune system or interactions with host cell surfaces due to its similarity to Neu5Ac. Investigation into its role in bacterial physiology and pathogenicity is limited as there are no effective sources of it. Herein, we construct a de novo Leg5,7Ac2 biosynthetic pathway by combining multiple metabolic modules from three different microbial sources (Saccharomyces cerevisiae, C. jejuni, and L. pneumophila). Over‐expression of this de novo pathway in Escherichia coli that has been engineered to lack two native catabolic pathways, enables significant quantities of Leg5,7Ac2 (≈120 mg L−1 of culture broth) to be produced. Pure Leg5,7Ac2 could be isolated and converted into CMP‐activated sugar for biochemical applications and a phenyl thioglycoside for chemical synthesis applications. This first total biosynthesis provides an essential source of Leg5,7Ac2 enabling study of its role in prokaryotic and eukaryotic glycobiology. A cell‐based metabolic engineering strategy for the production of the complex carbohydrate legionaminic acid (Leg5,7Ac2) was achieved. Metabolic modules from three different microbial sources were used to generate a de novo biosynthetic route to access Leg5,7Ac2. Chemoenzymatic and chemical activation of Leg5,7Ac2 is also presented.