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A sterol biosynthetic pathway in Mycobacterium
Author(s) -
Lamb David C.,
Kelly Diane E.,
Manning Nigel J.,
Kelly Steven L.
Publication year - 1998
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/s0014-5793(98)01218-6
Subject(s) - sterol , biochemistry , mycobacterium smegmatis , saccharomyces cerevisiae , enzyme , mycobacterium tuberculosis , mycobacterium , cholesterol , biology , biosynthesis , sterol regulatory element binding protein , chemistry , yeast , bacteria , tuberculosis , genetics , medicine , pathology
The genome sequence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (and also M. leprae ) revealed a significant number of homologies to Saccharomyces cerevisiae sterol biosynthetic enzymes. We addressed the hypothesis of a potential sterol biosynthetic pathway existing in Mycobacterium using cultures of Mycobacterum smegmatis . Non‐saponifiable lipid extracts subjected to analysis by gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry (GC‐MS) showed cholesterol was present. Sterol synthesis by M. smegmatis was confirmed using 14 C‐radiolabelled mevalonic acid and incorporation into C4‐desmethyl sterol co‐migrating with authentic cholesterol on TLC. The sterol biosynthetic pathway has provided a rich source of targets for commercially important bioactive molecules and such agents represent new opportunities for Mycobacteria chemotherapy.