title: Farnesyl-diphosphate synthase is localized in peroxisomes.
abstract: In this study, we have investigated the subcellular localization of farnesyl-diphosphate synthase (FPP synthase). FPP synthase produces FPP, which is utilized in the synthesis of squalene, cholesterol, farnesylated and geranylgeranylated proteins, dolichols, coenzyme Q, and the isoprenoid moiety of heme a. This enzyme is found in the 100,000 x g supernatant fraction of cells or tissues and has been considered to be a cytoplasmic protein. In this study, analysis of FPP synthase activity and protein in fractionated rat liver together with immunofluorescent and immunoelectron microscopy studies demonstrated unequivocally that FPP synthase is largely localized in peroxisomes. These data, in combination with the previous observation that mevalonate kinase is predominantly localized in peroxisomes, suggest that peroxisomes are the major site of synthesis of FPP from mevalonate. We also demonstrate that in liver tissue obtained from patients with peroxisomal deficiency diseases (Zellweger syndrome and neonatal adrenoleukodystrophy), the activities of five enzymes involved in isoprenoid synthesis, namely mevalonate kinase, phosphomevalonate kinase, mevalonate-diphosphate decarboxylase, isopentenyl-diphosphate isomerase, and FPP synthase, are significantly reduced, consistent with a peroxisomal localization of these enzymes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, San Diego State University, California 92182.
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Krisans
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ericsson
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Keller
mesh_terms: D000326:Adrenoleukodystrophy / Q000201:enzymology; D019883:Alkyl and Aryl Transferases; D000818:Animals; D002499:Centrifugation, Density Gradient; D051228:Geranyltranstransferase; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D008830:Microbodies / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D016253:Microscopy, Immunoelectron; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014166:Transferases / Q000378:metabolism*; D015211:Zellweger Syndrome / Q000201:enzymology
chemical_list: D014166:Transferases; D019883:Alkyl and Aryl Transferases; D051228:Geranyltranstransferase