Escherichia coli can utilize D-mannose for its sole carbon and energy source. Alpha-D-mannose is introduced into the cytoplasm through a mannose PTS permease. A phosphotransferase system (PTS) takes up mannose producing D-mannose-6-phosphate which is then converted to D-fructose-6-phosphate via an isomerase. D-fructose-6-phosphate is an intermediate of glycolysis and can enter the pathways of metabolism. The first two enzymes in the pathway catalyze isomerizations that interconvert phosphorylated aldohexoses (β-D-glucose-6-phosphate, D-mannose-6-phosphate) and phosphorylated ketohexoses (D-fructose-6-phosphate). The reaction catalyzed by mannose-6-phosphate isomerase that produces D-mannose-6-phosphate is the first committed step in the biosynthesis of the activated mannose donor GDP-α-D-mannose. D-mannose-6-phosphate is then converted to GDP-D-mannose by the interaction of phosphomannomutase and mannose-1-phosphate guanylyltransferase. GDP-D-mannose produces GDP-L-fucose beginning with the dehydration to GDP-4-dehydro-6-deoxy-D-mannose. GDP-fucose is synthesized by a two step epimerase and reductase of GDP-4-dehydro-6-deoxy-D-mannose. L-fucose then enters the colanic acid building blocks biosynthesis pathway.

Mannose Metabolism References