title: Isolation and characterization of isoprene mutants of Escherichia coli.
abstract: Isoprenoid compounds are found in all organisms. In Escherichia coli the isoprene pathway has three distinct branches: the modification of tRNA; the respiratory quinones ubiquinone and menaquinone; and the dolichols, which are long-chain alcohols involved in cell wall biosynthesis. Very little is known about procaryotic isoprene biosynthesis compared with what is known about eucaryote isoprene biosynthesis. This study approached some of the questions about isoprenoid biosynthesis and regulation in procaryotes by isolating and characterizing mutants in E. coli. Mutants were selected by determining their resistance to low levels of aminoglycoside antibiotics, which require an electron transport chain for uptake into bacterial cells. The mutants were characterized with regard to their phenotypes, map positions, enzymatic activities, and total ubiquinone content. In particular, the enzymes studied were isopentenyldiphosphate delta-isomerase (EC 5.3.3.2), farnesyldiphosphate synthetase (EC 2.5.1.1), and higher prenyl transferases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City 84112.
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Sherman
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Petersen
authors.forename: C D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Poulter
mesh_terms: D002070:Butadienes / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D019748:Carbon-Carbon Double Bond Isomerases; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003360:Cosmids; D004122:Dimethylallyltranstransferase / Q000378:metabolism; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial / Q000235:genetics; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005816:Genetic Complementation Test; D045782:Hemiterpenes; D019753:Intramolecular Lyases; D007535:Isomerases / Q000378:metabolism; D009153:Mutagens; D009154:Mutation; D010420:Pentanes; D014451:Ubiquinone / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D002070:Butadienes; D045782:Hemiterpenes; D009153:Mutagens; D010420:Pentanes; C005059:isoprene; D014451:Ubiquinone; D004122:Dimethylallyltranstransferase; D007535:Isomerases; D019748:Carbon-Carbon Double Bond Isomerases; C021453:isopentenyldiphosphate delta-isomerase; D019753:Intramolecular Lyases; C048278:farnesylpyrophosphate cyclase