Molecular characterization of four genes involved in sulfur metabolism in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Porphyra purpurea</Emphasis> (Roth) C. Agardh |
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Authors: | Subhash C Minocha Matt Hunt Dennis E Mathews |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Plant Biology, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH 03824, USA;(2) Present address: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 384 ERML, 1201 W. Gregory Drive, Urbana, IL 61801, USA |
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Abstract: | Sulfated polysaccharides (carrageenans and agars) are among the most important products of red algae that are used as food
additives as well as in molecular biology research. The quality and value of the product is greatly dependent on the levels
and sites of sulfation of the polysaccharides. Little information is currently available on the molecular details of sulfur
metabolism in red algae. Considering the economic importance of sulfated polysaccharide, elucidating the molecular details
of sulfur metabolism in these organisms could help in future endeavors to improve algal commercial value, e.g., through genetic
engineering. A cDNA library from the red alga Porphyra purpurea (Roth) C. Agardh was used to isolate four cDNAs with homology to genes encoding known sulfur assimilation enzymes: sulfate
adenyltransferase (ATP sulfurylase), adenosine 5′-phosphosulfate kinase (APSK), sulfite reductase, and cysteine synthase.
These cDNAs were characterized with respect to their molecular properties and a cDNA with homology to APSK was used to functionally
complement an Escherichia coli auxotroph APSK− mutant. The other cDNAs are being similarly characterized with respect to their ability to produce functional enzymes. Elucidation
of the regulation of expression of these genes will aid in future research to determine the biochemical and genetic details
of the sulfate assimilation pathway as well as its genetic manipulation in red algae. |
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Keywords: | Carrageenan cDNA library Porphyra Red algae Sulfate assimilation |
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