蓖麻和线虫的两种不同结构脂肪酸去饱和酶的原核表达

目的:通过在原核表达系统中表达蓖麻的可溶性脂肪酸去饱和酶基因和线虫的fat-1脂肪酸去饱和酶基因,为脂肪酸去饱和酶序列结构与功能的研究奠定基础。方法:将蓖麻RCD△9脂肪酸去饱和酶和线虫fat-1脂肪酸去饱和酶基因亚克隆到大肠杆菌BL21表达载体pET32a+中,获得重组表达载体pET32a+-R9,pET32a+- F1,并通过SDS-PAGE和Western Blotting鉴定蛋白的表达情况。结果:经PCR和测序鉴定,证实两个重组质粒含有目的基因片段;SDS-PAGE和Western Blotting证实两种蛋白在大肠杆菌中获得表达,但表达量具有明显的不同;Anthepro软件对蛋白跨膜结构的分析,验证蓖麻△9脂肪酸去饱和酶和线虫fat-1脂肪酸去饱和酶在结构上的不同。结论:蓖麻的RCD脂肪酸去饱和酶和线虫的fat-1脂肪酸去饱和酶都得到了表达,但线虫fat-1脂肪酸去饱和酶表达量偏低;这可能与fat-1脂肪酸去饱和酶是一类跨膜蛋白的性质直接相关。因此,对于线虫fat-1脂肪酸去饱和酶的基于蛋白纯化的结构分析有待进一步的研究。     

油菜叶绿体乙酰辅酶A羧化酶单交换表达载体的构建

根据已知序列设计引物,通过PCR扩增获得质体定位的乙酰辅酶A羧化酶的4个亚基的基因序列。先将该酶4个亚基的基因进行拼接,然后将这4个拼接好的片段,克隆到pMD18-T载体上,得到质粒pH BM714。再以质粒pHBM714 DNA为模板,用分别带有CpoI和Asc I酶切位点的引物进行PCR扩增,PCR产物在dTTP的保护下经T4 DNA聚合酶处理,与将质粒pHBM720DNA纯化后经CpoI和AscI双酶切后得到的大片段连接,连接产物转化大肠杆菌Xl_(10)-gold,得到正确的重组子命名为pHBM726。此质粒pH BM726,即为带有壮观霉素抗性基因(aadA)筛选标记的质体定位的乙酰辅酶A羧化酶基因油菜叶绿体单交换表达载体;在此载体中壮观霉素抗性基因(aadA)、乙酰辅酶A羧化酶的4个亚基的基因(ACC)和绿色荧光蛋白基因(gfp)共6个基因串联在一起,共用一个启动子序列,一起来进行表达;通过酶切检测、PCR验证和测序验证,均表明该表达载体构建成功。最后此载体在大肠杆菌中表达时,发现重组菌能够在含壮观霉素的培养基上生长,且在可见光下,能看到绿色荧光,表明壮观霉素抗性基因和绿色荧光蛋白基因均在大肠杆菌中成功表达;表达产物通过Western印迹验证表明组成乙酰辅酶A羧化酶的4个亚基的基因在大肠杆菌中成功表达。以上结果表明,该表达载体中串联排列的这6个基因均在大肠杆菌中成功表达。该研究结果可为质体定位的乙酰辅酶A羧化酶转叶绿体的研究奠定基础,为油菜油脂代谢研究提供参考。     

磷酸泛酰巯基乙胺基转移酶在真菌和细菌的研究进展

磷酸泛酰巯基乙胺基转移酶(phosphopantetheinyl transferases,PPTase)可催化脂肪酸合酶(fatty acid synthases,FAS)、聚酮合成酶(polyketide synthases,PKS)以及非核糖体肽合成酶(non-ribosomal peptide syntethases,NRPS)的酰基载体蛋白(acyl carrier protein,ACP)及肽酰载体蛋白(peptidyl carrier protein,PCP)等的翻译后修饰反应,将辅酶A(coenzyme A,CoA)上的磷酸泛酰巯基乙胺基转移到ACP及PCP的保守丝氨酸残基上,从而激发ACP及PCP的活性,由此脂肪酸、聚酮、非核糖体肽得以合成。在大部分真菌及细菌中都存在着PPTase,且其在生物代谢中起到重要的作用。现对其研究进展进行阐述。     

热稳定性丙酮酸:铁氧还蛋白氧化还原酶异源表达及其在乙酰辅酶A合成中的应用 *

乙酰辅酶A被广泛应用到生物医学研究中,使用TPP代替昂贵的ATP为辅因子合成乙酰辅酶A受到广泛关注.新阿波罗栖热袍菌(Thermotoga neapolitana)来源的丙酮酸:铁氧还蛋白氧化还原酶(TnPFOR)在大肠杆菌中进行了重组表达,分析了其酶学特性,并探讨了利用嗜热酶(TnPFOR)酶法合成乙酰辅酶A.采用pET-20b(+)载体,将新阿波罗栖热袍菌来源的四亚基组成的嗜热酶(TnPFOR)在大肠杆菌中进行异源表达;通过热处理和阴离子交换层析法纯化嗜热酶(TnPFOR);重组表达的嗜热酶(TnPFOR)的最适反应温度和pH分别为90℃和6.5,TnPFOR在90℃下孵育1h时保留了50%活性.利用嗜热酶(TnPFOR),以TPP为辅酶合成了乙酰辅酶A,并探讨了不同温度,丙酮酸钠底物浓度和反应时间对乙酰辅酶A合成的影响.得到的优化条件为:最适反应温度为90℃,丙酮酸钠浓度为1.5mmol/L,反应时间为2min.     

黑胸大蠊浓核病毒磷脂酶A2功能区的克隆及其表达

通过RT-PCR扩增获得PfDNV结构蛋白基因VP1含磷脂酶A2(PL A2)功能区片段,将其连接到pMD18-T载体上并亚克隆到原核表达载体pET28a和pET26b,构建阅读框架正确的重组表达载体pET28a-PLA和pET26b-PLA,转化大肠杆菌BL21-codonplus(DE3)-RIL,经IPTG诱导,SDS-PAGE显示得到了目的融合蛋白,以抗组氨酸的单克隆抗体对经Ni-NTA亲和层析柱纯化的目的蛋白进行了western blot鉴定,结果表明成功表达PfDNV结构蛋白PLA2,对于研究该酶的生物学特性及其在病毒对细胞侵染过程中的功能奠定了基础.     

猪链球菌2型溶血素基因与38KDa蛋白基因克隆及联合表达

目的:研究有效的猪链球菌病疫苗。方法:以四川株猪链球菌2型基因组DNA为模板分别扩增溶血素基因和38KDa基因主要功能区基因;并经连接、克隆及酶切鉴定。分别构建原核表达载体pET32a-Sly、pET32a-38KDa,提取阳性克隆质粒分别进行双酶切并纯化,通过PCR串联两片断,将目的片断定向克隆到表达载体pET32a中,经测序正确后,重组质粒转化入大肠杆菌BL21 (DE3),用IPTG进行诱导表达。结果:重组菌菌体裂解物经SDS-PAGE电泳可检测到相对分子量约为60Ku的重组蛋白,表达产物经纯化后,免疫印迹法(Western-blotting)证实该重组蛋白可以与SS2阳性血清发生特异性反应。结论:本研究为重组蛋白的免疫保护应用奠定基础。     

青蒿法呢醇合酶原核表达、纯化与功能鉴定

将经RACE方法克隆到的青蒿倍半萜合酶cDNA(AF304444) 开放阅读框插入到原核表达载体pET30a(+)的NcoⅠ和BamHⅠ酶切位点之间,构建N端和C端均携带有HIS₆表达标签的重组表达载体pET30SESQ。将pET30SESQ转入大肠杆菌BL21(DE3), IPTG(Isopropyl-beta-D-thiogalactoside)诱导蛋白表达,表达产物经镍琼脂糖柱纯化。纯化蛋白加入酶促反应体系(FPP),GC-MS分析酶促反应体系的正己烷萃取物,结果显示此重组酶可以催化FPP向法呢醇的转化。     

垩唑霉素生物合成的反式酰基转移酶具有底物宽泛性

垩唑霉素生物合成中的聚酮合酶(PKS)均缺少酰基转移酶(AT)功能域,在聚酮合酶外含有两个独立的反式AT OzmM和OzmC。对反式AT的敲除及回补实验证明两个反式AT是垩唑霉素合成所必需的。AT的功能是将延伸单元丙二酰辅酶A或者甲基丙二酰辅酶A传递到酰基载体蛋白(ACP)。为了研究OzmM和OzmC在垩唑霉素生物合成中的功能,本研究以OzmM蛋白和PKS蛋白OzmK为研究对象,研究了反式AT是否和PKS蛋白存在相互作用及反式AT将延伸单元传递给ACP后是否仍和PKS蛋白存在相互作用。为确定OzmM的功能,本研究在大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)中表达了OzmM蛋白并对其纯化进行体外实验,并且利用亲和共纯化和生物膜干涉技术验证了OzmM和OzmK之间的相互作用。本研究推测当OzmM将底物传递给ACP后会离开PKS蛋白,不参与延伸单元与聚酮主链的缩合反应,并且反式AT (OzmM)与PKS (OzmK)之间的弱相互作用是反式AT在ACP与PKS之间快速传递延伸单元的功能所必须的。另一个反式AT OzmC的功能为传递甲氧丙二酰ACP到OzmJ-ACP,本研究利用丙二酰辅酶A、甲基丙二酰辅酶A对其底物宽泛性进行研究,发现OzmC可以将丙二酰辅酶A传递给OzmQ-ACP,但不可以传递甲基丙二酰辅酶A。     

黑胸大蠊浓核病毒磷脂酶A2功能区的克隆及其表达

通过RT-PCR扩增获得PfDNV结构蛋白基因VP1含磷脂酶A2(PLA2)功能区片段,将其连接到pMD18-T载体上并亚克隆到原核表达载体pET28a和pET26b,构建阅读框架正确的重组表达载体pET28a-PLA和pET26b-PLA,转化大肠杆菌BL21-codonplus(DE3)-RIL,经IPTG诱导,SDS-PAGE显示得到了目的融合蛋白,以抗组氨酸的单克隆抗体对经Ni-NTA亲和层析柱纯化的目的蛋白进行了westernblot鉴定,结果表明成功表达PfDNV结构蛋白PLA2,对于研究该酶的生物学特性及其在病毒对细胞侵染过程中的功能奠定了基础。     

热稳定性丙酮酸:铁氧还蛋白氧化还原酶异源表达及其在乙酰辅酶A合成中的应用

乙酰辅酶A被广泛应用到生物医学研究中,使用TPP代替昂贵的ATP为辅因子合成乙酰辅酶A受到广泛关注。新阿波罗栖热袍菌(Thermotoga neapolitana)来源的丙酮酸:铁氧还蛋白氧化还原酶(Tn PFOR)在大肠杆菌中进行了重组表达,分析了其酶学特性,并探讨了利用嗜热酶(TnPFOR)酶法合成乙酰辅酶A。采用pET-20b(+)载体,将新阿波罗栖热袍菌来源的四亚基组成的嗜热酶(Tn PFOR)在大肠杆菌中进行异源表达;通过热处理和阴离子交换层析法纯化嗜热酶(TnPFOR);重组表达的嗜热酶(TnPFOR)的最适反应温度和pH分别为90℃和6. 5,TnPFOR在90℃下孵育1h时保留了50%活性。利用嗜热酶(Tn PFOR),以TPP为辅酶合成了乙酰辅酶A,并探讨了不同温度、丙酮酸钠底物浓度和反应时间对乙酰辅酶A合成的影响。得到的优化条件为:最适反应温度为90℃,丙酮酸钠浓度为1. 5mmol/L,反应时间为2min。     

Characterization and site-directed mutagenesis of the putative novel acyl carrier protein Rv0033 and Rv1344 from Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Mycolic acids are generated in Mycobacterium tuberculosis as a result of the interaction of two fatty acid biosynthetic systems: type I fatty acid synthase (FAS) and type II fatty acid synthase. Acyl carrier protein (ACP) is a small, acidic protein in type II FAS systems. It plays a central role in mycolic acid biosynthesis by transferring the acyl groups from one enzyme to another for the completion of the fatty acid synthesis cycle. The nature of the proper recognition between ACPs and its many interactive proteins is not understood. Here, we report the over-expression, purification, and characterization of two putative ACPs: Rv0033 and Rv1344 in M. tuberculosis. In order to study the role of the conserved residues and the conformation of whole protein, some site-directed mutations of recombinant Acp1344 were made and the 3D structure of Acp1344 was modeled.     

Relationships between fatty acid and polyketide synthases from Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2): characterization of the fatty acid synthase acyl carrier protein.

We have characterized an acyl carrier protein (ACP) presumed to be involved in the synthesis of fatty acids in Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2). This is the third ACP to have been identified in S. coelicolor; the two previously characterized ACPs are involved in the synthesis of two aromatic polyketides: the blue-pigmented antibiotic actinorhodin and a grey pigment associated with the spore walls. The three ACPs are clearly related. The presumed fatty acid synthase (FAS) ACP was partially purified, and the N-terminal amino acid sequence was obtained. The corresponding gene (acpP) was cloned and sequenced and found to lie within 1 kb of a previously characterized gene (fabD) encoding another subunit of the S. coelicolor FAS, malonyl coenzyme A:ACP acyl-transferase. Expression of S. coelicolor acpP in Escherichia coli yielded several different forms, whose masses corresponded to the active (holo) form of the protein carrying various acyl substituents. To test the mechanisms that normally prevent the FAS ACP from substituting for the actinorhodin ACP, acpP was cloned in place of actI-open reading frame 3 (encoding the actinorhodin ACP) to allow coexpression of acpP with the act polyketide synthase (PKS) genes. Pigmented polyketide production was observed, but only at a small fraction of its former level. This suggests that the FAS and PKS ACPs may be biochemically incompatible and that this could prevent functional complementation between the FAS and PKSs that potentially coexist within the same cells.     

Purification and characterization of acyl carrier protein from two cyanobacteria species

The acyl carrier protein (ACP), an essential protein cofactor for fatty acid synthesis, has been isolated from two cyanobacteria: the filamentous, heterocystous, Anabaena variabilis (ATCC 29211) and the unicellular Synechocystis 6803 (ATCC 27184). Both ACPs have been purified to homogeneity utilizing a three-column procedure. Synechocystis 6803 ACP was purified 1800-fold with 67% yield, while A. variabilis ACP was purified 1040-fold with 50% yield. Yields of 13.0 micrograms ACP/g Synechocystis 6803 and 9.0 micrograms ACP/g A. variabilis were achieved. Amino acid analysis indicated that these ACPs were highly charged acidic proteins similar to other known ACPs. Sequence analysis revealed that both cyanobacterial ACPs were highly conserved with both spinach and Escherichia coli ACP at the phosphopantetheine prosthetic group region. Examining the probability of alpha-helix and beta-turn regions in various ACPs, showed that cyanobacterial ACPs were more closely related to E. coli ACP than spinach ACP I. Immunoblot analysis and a competitive binding assay for ACP illustrated that both ACPs bound poorly to spinach ACP I antibody. SDS/PAGE and native PAGE of Synechocystis 6803 ACP and A. variabilis ACP showed that cyanobacteria ACPs co-migrated with E. coli ACP and had relative molecular masses of 18,100 and 17,900 respectively. Both native and urea gel analysis of acyl-ACP products from fatty acid synthase reactions demonstrated that bacterial ACPs and plant ACP gave essentially the same metabolic products when assayed using either bacterial or plant fatty acid synthase. A. variabilis and Synechocystis 6803 ACP could be acylated using E. coli acyl ACP synthetase.     

Kinetic and mechanistic analysis of the malonyl CoA:ACP transacylase from Streptomyces coelicolor indicates a single catalytically competent serine nucleophile at the active site

The source of malonyl groups for polyketide and fatty acid biosynthesis is malonyl CoA. During fatty acid and polyketide biosynthesis, malonyl groups are normally transferred to the acyl carrier protein (ACP) component of the synthase by a malonyl CoA:holo-ACP transacylase (MCAT) enzyme. The fatty acid synthase (FAS) malonyl CoA:ACP transacylase from Streptomyces coelicolor was expressed in Escherichia coli as a hexahistidine-tagged (His(6)) fusion protein in high yield. The His(6)-MCAT was purified to homogeneity using standard techniques, and kinetic analysis of the malonylation of S. coelicolorFAS holo-ACP, catalyzed by His(6)-MCAT, gave K(infinity) (M) values of 73 (ACP) and 60 microM (malonyl CoA). A catalytic constant k (infinity) (M) of 450 s(-1) and specificity constants k (infinity) (M)/K (infinity) (M) of 6.2 (ACP) and 7.5 microM(-1) s(-1) (malonyl CoA) were measured. Malonyl transfer to the E. coli FAS holo-ACP, catalyzed by His(6)-MCAT, was less efficient (k (infinity) (M)/K (infinity) (M) was 10% of that of the S. coelicolor ACP). Incubation of MCAT with the serine specific agent PMSF caused inhibition of malonyl transfer to FAS ACPs, and an S97A MCAT mutant was incapable of catalyzing malonyl transfer. Our results show that in the reaction with FAS holo-ACPs the S. coelicolor MCAT is very similar to the E. coli MCAT paradigm in terms of its kinetic mechanism and active site residues. These results indicate that no other active site nucleophile is involved in catalysis as has been suggested to explain recently reported observations.     

The purification and function of acetyl coenzyme A:acyl carrier protein transacylase

When individual enzyme activities of the fatty acid synthetase (FAS) system were assayed in extracts from five different plant tissues, acetyl-CoA:acyl carrier protein (ACP) transacylase and beta-ketoacyl-ACP synthetases I and II had consistently low specific activities in comparison with the other enzymes of the system. However, two of these extracts synthesized significant levels of medium chain fatty acids (rather than C16 and C18 acid) from [14C]malonyl-CoA; these extracts had elevated levels of acetyl-CoA:ACP transacylase. To explore the role of the acetyl transacylase more carefully, this enzyme was purified some 180-fold from spinach leaf extracts. Varying concentrations of the transacylase were then added either to spinach leaf extracts or to a completely reconstituted FAS system consisting of highly purified enzymes. The results suggested that: (a) acetyl-CoA:ACP transacylase was the enzyme catalyzing the rate-limiting step in the plant FAS system; (b) increasing concentration of this enzyme markedly increased the levels of the medium chain fatty acids, whereas increase of the other enzymes of the FAS system led to increased levels of stearic acid synthesis; and (c) beta-ketoacyl-ACP synthetase I was not involved in the rate-limiting step. It is suggested that modulation of the activity of acetyl-CoA:ACP transacylase may have important implications in the type of fatty acid synthesized, as well as the amount of fatty acids formed.     

Structural and dynamic characterization of a freestanding acyl carrier protein involved in the biosynthesis of cyclic lipopeptide antibiotics

Friulimicin is a cyclic lipodecapeptide antibiotic that is produced by Actinoplanes friuliensis. Similar to the related lipopeptide drug daptomycin, the peptide skeleton of friulimicin is synthesized by a large multienzyme nonribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) system. The LipD protein plays a major role in the acylation reaction of friulimicin. The attachment of the fatty acid group promotes its antibiotic activity. Phylogenetic analysis reveals that LipD is most closely related to other freestanding acyl carrier proteins (ACPs), for which the genes are located near to NRPS gene clusters. Here, we report that the solution NMR structure of apo‐LipD is very similar to other four‐helix bundle forming ACPs from fatty acid synthase (FAS), polyketide synthase, and NRPS systems. By recording NMR dynamics data, we found that the backbone motions in holo‐LipD are more restricted than in apo‐LipD due to the attachment of phosphopantetheine moiety. This enhanced stability of holo‐LipD was also observed in differential scanning calorimetry experiments. Furthermore, we demonstrate that, unlike several other ACPs, the folding of LipD does not depend on the presence of divalent cations, although the presence of Mg²⁺ or Ca²⁺ can increase the protein stability. We propose that small structural rearrangements in the tertiary structure of holo‐LipD which lead to the enhanced stability are important for the cognate enzyme recognition for the acylation reaction. Our results also highlight the different surface charges of LipD and FAS‐ACP from A. friuliensis that would allow the acyl‐CoA ligase to interact preferentially with the LipD instead of binding to the FAS‐ACP.     

Evolution of acyl-ACP thioesterases and β-ketoacyl-ACP synthases revealed by protein–protein interactions

The fatty acid synthase (FAS) is a conserved primary metabolic enzyme complex capable of tolerating cross-species engineering of domains for the development of modified and overproduced fatty acids. In eukaryotes, acyl-acyl carrier protein thioesterases (TEs) off-load mature cargo from the acyl carrier protein (ACP), and plants have developed TEs for short/medium-chain fatty acids. We showed that engineering plant TEs into the green microalga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii does not result in the predicted shift in fatty acid profile. Since fatty acid biosynthesis relies on substrate recognition and protein–protein interactions between the ACP and its partner enzymes, we hypothesized that plant TEs and algal ACP do not functionally interact. Phylogenetic analysis revealed major evolutionary differences between FAS enzymes, including TEs and ketoacyl synthases (KSs), in which the former is present only in some species, whereas the latter is present in all, and has a common ancestor. In line with these results, TEs appeared to be selective towards their ACP partners, whereas KSs showed promiscuous behavior across bacterial, plant, and algal species. Based on phylogenetic analyses, in silico docking, in vitro mechanistic cross-linking, and in vivo algal engineering, we propose that phylogeny can predict effective interactions between ACPs and partner enzymes.     

Acyl carrier protein: structure-function relationships in a conserved multifunctional protein family.

Acyl carrier protein (ACP) is a universal and highly conserved carrier of acyl intermediates during fatty acid synthesis. In yeast and mammals, ACP exists as a separate domain within a large multifunctional fatty acid synthase polyprotein (type I FAS), whereas it is a small monomeric protein in bacteria and plastids (type II FAS). Bacterial ACPs are also acyl donors for synthesis of a variety of products, including endotoxin and acylated homoserine lactones involved in quorum sensing; the distinct and essential nature of these processes in growth and pathogenesis make ACP-dependent enzymes attractive antimicrobial drug targets. Additionally, ACP homologues are key components in the production of secondary metabolites such as polyketides and nonribosomal peptides. Many ACPs exhibit characteristic structural features of natively unfolded proteins in vitro, with a dynamic and flexible conformation dominated by 3 parallel alpha helices that enclose the thioester-linked acyl group attached to a phosphopantetheine prosthetic group. ACP conformation may also be influenced by divalent cations and interaction with partner enzymes through its "recognition" helix II, properties that are key to its ability to alternately sequester acyl groups and deliver them to the active sites of ACP-dependent enzymes. This review highlights recent progress in defining how the structural features of ACP are related to its multiple carrier roles in fatty acid metabolism.     

Enzymes involved in fatty acid and polyketide biosynthesis in Streptomyces glaucescens: role of FabH and FabD and their acyl carrier protein specificity

Malonyl acyl carrier protein (ACP) is used as an extender unit in each of the elongation steps catalyzed by the type II dissociated fatty acid synthase (FAS) and polyketide synthase (PKS) of Streptomyces glaucescens. Initiation of straight-chain fatty acid biosynthesis by the type II FAS involves a direct condensation of acetyl-CoA with this malonyl-ACP to generate a 3-ketobutyryl-ACP product and is catalyzed by FabH. In vitro experiments with a reconstituted type II PKS system in the absence of FabH have previously shown that the acetyl-ACP (generated by decarboxylation of malonyl-ACP), not acetyl-CoA, is used to initiate tetracenomycin C (TCM C) biosynthesis. We have shown that sgFabH activity is present in S. glaucescens fermentations during TCM C production, suggesting that it could contribute to initiation of TCM C biosynthesis in vivo. Isotope incorporation studies with [CD3]acetate and [13CD3]acetate demonstrated significant intact retention of three deuteriums into the starter unit of palmitate and complete washout of deuterium label into the starter unit of TCM C. These observations provide evidence that acetyl-CoA is not used directly as a starter unit for TCM C biosynthesis in vivo and argue against an involvement of FabH in this process. Consistent with this conclusion, assays of the purified recombinant sgFabH with acetyl-CoA demonstrated activity using malonyl-ACP generated from either FabC (the S. glaucescens FAS ACP) (k(cat) 42.2 min(-1), K(m) 4.5 +/- 0.3 microM) or AcpP (the E. coli FAS ACP) (k(cat) 7.5 min(-1), K(m) 6.3 +/- 0.3 microM) but not TcmM (the S. glaucescens PKS ACP). In contrast, the sgFabD which catalyzes conversion of malonyl-CoA to malonyl-ACP for fatty acid biosynthesis was shown to be active with TcmM (k(cat) 150 min(-1), K(m) 12.2 +/- 1.2 microM), AcpP (k(cat) 141 min(-1), K(m) 13.2 +/- 1.6 microM), and FabC (k(cat) 560 min(-1), K(m) 12.7 +/- 2.6 microM). This enzyme was shown to be present during TCM C production and could play a role in generating malonyl-ACP for both processes. Previous demonstrations that the purified PKS ACPs catalyze self-malonylation and that a FabD activity is not required for polyketide biosynthesis are shown to be an artifact of the expression and purification protocols. The relaxed ACP specificity of FabD and the lack of a clear alternative are consistent with a role of FabD in providing malonyl-ACP precursors for PKS as well as FAS processes. In contrast, the ACP specificity of FabH, isotope labeling studies, and a demonstrated alternative mechanism for initiation of the PKS process provide unequivocal evidence that FabH is involved only in the FAS process.     

Probing the mechanism of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis beta-ketoacyl-acyl carrier protein synthase III mtFabH: factors influencing catalysis and substrate specificity

Mycolic acids are the dominant feature of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis cell wall. These alpha-alkyl, beta-hydroxy fatty acids are formed by the condensation of two fatty acids, a long meromycolic acid and a shorter C(24)-C(26) fatty acid. The component fatty acids are produced via a combination of type I and II fatty acid synthases (FAS) with FAS-I products being elongated by FAS-II toward meromycolic acids. The beta-ketoacyl-acyl carrier protein (ACP) synthase III encoded by mtfabH (mtFabH) links FAS-I and FAS-II, catalyzing the condensation of FAS-I-derived acyl-CoAs with malonyl-acyl carrier protein (ACP). The acyl-CoA chain length specificity of mtFabH was assessed in vitro; the enzyme extended longer, physiologically relevant acyl-CoA primers when paired with AcpM, its natural partner, than with Escherichia coli ACP. The ability of the enzyme to use E. coli ACP suggests that a similar mode of binding is likely with both ACPs, yet it is clear that unique factors inherent to AcpM modulate the substrate specificity of mtFabH. Mutation of proposed key mtFabH residues was used to define their catalytic roles. Substitution of supposed acyl-CoA binding residues reduced transacylation, with double substitutions totally abrogating activity. Mutation of Arg(46) revealed its more critical role in malonyl-AcpM decarboxylation than in the acyl-CoA binding role. Interestingly, this effect was suppressed intragenically by Arg(161) --> Ala substitution. Our structural studies suggested that His(258), previously implicated in malonyl-ACP decarboxylation, also acts as an anchor point for a network of water molecules that we propose promotes deprotonation and transacylation of Cys(122).