Premium
A Non‐Enzymatic Pathway with Superoxide in Intracellular Terpenoid Synthesis
Author(s) -
Ueda Daijiro,
Matsugane Saori,
Okamoto Wataru,
Hashimoto Masayuki,
Sato Tsutomu
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
angewandte chemie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1521-3757
pISSN - 0044-8249
DOI - 10.1002/ange.201805383
Subject(s) - chemistry , superoxide , bacillus subtilis , enzyme , biochemistry , biosynthesis , autoxidation , levansucrase , superoxide dismutase , terpenoid , biology , bacteria , genetics
Non‐C 5 ‐units terpenoids (norisoprenoids) with an acetonyl group are widely distributed in nature. However, studies on the biosynthesis of norisoprenoids are scarce. Now, the C 33 norisoprenoid, (all‐E)‐farnesylfarnesylacetone, was identified from Bacillus spp. and it was elucidated for the first time that superoxide mediates the cleavage of menaquinones (vitamin K) to form norisoprenoids in saponification treatment. From in vivo experiments using gene‐disrupted Bacillus subtilis strains targeted for enzymes responsible for menaquinone biosynthesis and for superoxide dismutase, it was suggested that the non‐enzymatic cleavage (autoxidation) of menaquinone with superoxide resulted in norisoprenoid synthesis in Bacillus cells. Furthermore, the bioactive norisoprenoids, farnesylacetone and phytone, were produced in Bacillus cells by this novel synthesis system.