Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry
Online ISSN : 1347-6947
Print ISSN : 0916-8451
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Regular Papers
Sterol Biosynthesis by a Prokaryote: First in Vitro Identification of the Genes Encoding Squalene Epoxidase and Lanosterol Synthase from Methylococcus capsulatus
Chiaki NAKANOAkihiro MOTEGITsutomu SATOMasayuki ONODERATsutomu HOSHINO
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2007 Volume 71 Issue 10 Pages 2543-2550

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Abstract

Sterol biosynthesis by prokaryotic organisms is very rare. Squalene epoxidase and lanosterol synthase are prerequisite to cyclic sterol biosynthesis. These two enzymes, from the methanotrophic bacterium Methylococcus capsulatus, were functionally expressed in Escherichia coli. Structural analyses of the enzymatic products indicated that the reactions proceeded in a complete regio- and stereospecific fashion to afford (3S)-2,3-oxidosqualene from squalene and lanosterol from (3S)-2,3-oxidosqualene, in full accordance with those of eukaryotes. However, our result obtained with the putative lanosterol synthase was inconsistent with a previous report that the prokaryote accepts both (3R)- and (3S)-2,3-oxidosqualenes to afford 3-epi-lanosterol and lanosterol, respectively. This is the first report demonstrating the existence of the genes encoding squalene epoxidase and lanosterol synthase in prokaryotes by establishing the enzyme activities. The evolutionary aspect of prokaryotic squalene epoxidase and lanosterol synthase is discussed.

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© 2007 by Japan Society for Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Agrochemistry
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