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Construction of carotenoid biosynthetic pathways using squalene synthase
Author(s) -
Furubayashi Maiko,
Li Ling,
Katabami Akinori,
Saito Kyoichi,
Umeno Daisuke
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/j.febslet.2013.12.003
Subject(s) - squalene , carotenoid , atp synthase , biochemistry , escherichia coli , sterol , steroid , prenylation , pigment , chemistry , polyene , biology , cholesterol , enzyme , organic chemistry , gene , hormone
The first committed steps of steroid/hopanoid pathways involve squalene synthase (SQS). Here, we report the Escherichia coli production of diaponeurosporene and diapolycopene, yellow C 30 carotenoid pigments, by expressing human SQS and Staphylococcus aureus dehydrosqualene (C 30 carotenoid) desaturase (CrtN). We suggest that the carotenoid pigments are synthesized mainly via the desaturation of squalene rather than the direct synthesis of dehydrosqualene through the non‐reductive condensation of prenyl diphosphate precursors, indicating the possible existence of a “squalene route” and a “lycopersene route” for C 30 and C 40 carotenoids, respectively. Additionally, this finding yields a new method of colorimetric screening for the cellular activity of squalene synthases, which are major targets for cholesterol‐lowering drugs.