Patent ID: 8202711

Claim:
A process for producing monatin or salt thereof comprising: (A) converting typtophan to 3-indolepyruvic acid by contacting tryptophan with a transaminase or an oxidase that catalyzes a reaction of converting tryptophan to 3-indolepyruvic acid, and (B) converting 3-indolepyruvic acid to 4-(indol-3-ylmethyl)-4-hydroxy-2-oxoglutaric acid by contacting said 3-indolepyruvic acid to an aldolase and an acid selected from the group consisting of oxaloacetic acid and pyruvic acid, wherein said aldolase catalyzes a reaction of converting 3-indolepyruvic acid to 4-(indol-3-ylmethyl)-4-hydroxy-2-oxoglutaric acid; and (C) contacting said 4-(indol-3-ylmethyl)-4-hydroxy-2-oxoglutaric acid to a dehyrogenase or a transaminase, wherein said dehydrogenase or said transaminase catalyzes a reaction of converting said 4-(indol-3-ylmethyl)-4-hydroxy-2-oxoglutaric acid to said monatin; thereby producing monatin or a salt thereof.