Towards the characterization of squalene synthase activity in extracts of Zymomonas mobilis |
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| Authors: | Anna I Koukkou Constantin Drainas Michel Rohmer |
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| Institution: | Sector of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of loannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece; UniversitèLouis Pasteur / CNRS, Institut Le Bel, 4 rue Biaise Pascal, 67070 Strasbourg, France |
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| Abstract: | Abstract Extracts of Zymomonas mobilis in the presence of NADPH converted tritium-labelled farnesyl diphosphate (FPP) into squalene, resulting from the activity of squalene synthase, as well as diploptene and diplopterol, derived from further squalene cyclisation. An unidentified isoprenoid representing up to 70% of the conversion products of FPP and different from presqualene alcohol was also formed, even in the absence of NADPH. Addition of squalestatin 1, an inhibitor of squalene synthase, blocked biosynthesis from FPP of the three former triterpenes, in accordance with the role of squalene synthase in their formation, as well as that of the unknown compound. |
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| Keywords: | Zymomonas mobilis Squalene synthase Triterpenes Hopanoid Squalene |
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