Phosphoketolase

 ( Ec 4.1.2 ) 

The enzyme phosphoketolase() catalysis the chemical reactions

D-xylulose 5-phosphate + phosphate $\backslash rightleftharpoons$ acetyl phosphate + D-glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate + H₂O ()

D-fructose 6-phosphate + phosphate $\backslash rightleftharpoons$ acetyl phosphate + D-erythrose 4-phosphate + H₂O ( EC 4.1.2.22)

D-sedoheptulose 7-phosphate + phosphate $\backslash rightleftharpoons$ acetyl phosphate + D-ribose 5-phosphate + H₂O

Phosphoketolase is considered a promiscuous enzyme because it was demonstrated to use 3 different sugar phosphates as substrates. In a recent genetic study, more than 150 putative phosphoketolase genes exhibiting varying Catalysis properties were found in 650 analyzed bacterial genomes.

This enzyme belongs to the family of , specifically the aldehyde-lyases, which cleave carbon-carbon bonds. It participates in 3 metabolism: pentose phosphate pathway, methane metabolism, and carbon fixation. It employs one cofactor, thiamin diphosphate. Phosphoketolase was previously used for Biotechnology purposes as it enables the construction of synthetic pathways that allow complete carbon conservation without the generation of Reducing agent.