An a-1,3-D-glucosyl L-rhamnose phosphorylase has been identified
in Clostridium phytofermentans.46 The sugar substrate for this
enzyme is found as a component of plant and bacterial cell walls;
in this instance, it has been postulated that the enzyme is involved
in Clostridial cell wall recycling. In an in vitro experiment, this
phosphorylase was capable of synthesising a-1,3-glucosyl L-rhamnose
disaccharide in 64% yield on a 5 mg scale; no other sugars
tested were acceptors for this enzyme.46