E. coli is able to utilize L-ascorbate (vitamin C) as the sole source of carbon under anaerobic and aerobic conditions. Ascorbic acid in the cytoplasm is processed through a spontaneous reaction with a hydrogen ion and hydrogen peroxide, producing water, dehydroascorbic acid and ascorbic acid. Dehydroascorbic acid reacts with water spontaneously producing an isomer, dehydroascorbate (bicyclic form). The compound then loses a hydrogen ion resulting in a 2,3-Diketo-L-gulonate which is then reduced through a NADH dependent 2,3 diketo-L-gulonate reductase, releasing a NAD and 3-Dehydro-L-gulonate. 3-Dehydro-L-gulonate is phosphorylated through an ATP mediated L-xylulose/3-keto-L-gulonate kinase resulting in an ADP, hydrogen ion and a 3-Keto-L-gulonate 6 phosphate. L-ascorbate can also be imported and converted to L-ascorbate-6-phosphate by the L-ascorbate PTS transporter. L-ascorbate-6-phosphate reacts with a probable L-ascorbate-6-phosphate lactonase ulaG, resulting in a 3-keto-L-gulonate 6-phosphate. The compound 3-keto-L-gulonate 6-phosphate can then be processed aerobically or anaerobically. Aerobic: 3-keto-L-gulonate 6-phosphate is decarboxylated by a 3-keto-L-gulonate-6-phosphate decarboxylase ulaD, releasing carbon dioxide and L-xylulose-5-phosphate, which is then changed into an isomer by L-ribulose-5-phosphate 3-epimerase ulaE, resulting in L-ribulose 5-phosphate. The product also changes into a different isomer through a L-ribulose-5-phosphate 4-epimerase ulaF resulting in Xylulose 5-phosphate, which is finally used as part of the pentose phosphate pathway. Anaerobic: 3-keto-L-gulonate 6-phosphate is decarboxylated by 3-keto-L-gulonate 6-phosphate decarboxylase sgbH, releasing carbon dioxide and L-xylulose-5-phosphate, which is changed into an isomer by predicted L-xylulose 5-phosphate 3-epimerase, resulting in L-ribulose 5-phosphate. The product again changes into a different isomer through a L-ribulose-5-phosphate 4-epimerase resulting in Xylulose 5-phosphate. Xylulose 5-phosphate then continues as part of the pentose phosphate pathway. Expression of the ula regulon is regulated by the L-ascorbate 6-phosphate-binding repressor UlaR and by cAMP-CRP. Under aerobic conditions, metabolism of L-ascorbate is hindered by the special reactivity and toxicity of this compound in the presence of oxygen.

Ascorbate Metabolism References