title: Structural and functional analysis of the gene cluster encoding carotenoid biosynthesis in Mycobacterium aurum A+.
abstract: The fragment containing the carotenoid gene cluster from Mycobacterium aurum A+, a 3,3'-dihydroxy-isoneriatene and 3-monohydroxy-isoneriatene accumulator, has been sequenced and the exposed eight genes are organised in two operons. The function of three of these genes, a phytoene desaturase (crtI), a phytoene cyclase (crtY) and a beta-carotene desaturase (crtU), was demonstrated by complementation of M. aurum carotenoid mutants. The eight genes of the carotenoid cluster are highly homologous to other carotenoid gene clusters and thus this cluster is a candidate for its introduction into mycobacteria as a non-antibiotic reporter gene(s) as well as a source of new regulated promoters.
authors.affiliation: Unidade de Micobactérias e Centro de Malaria e Outras Doenças Tropicais, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Portugal. mviveiros@ihmt.unl.pt
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Viveiros
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Krubasik
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sandmann
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Houssaini-Iraqui
mesh_terms: D019883:Alkyl and Aryl Transferases / Q000235:genetics; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D051232:Geranylgeranyl-Diphosphate Geranylgeranyltransferase; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D005810:Multigene Family; D009161:Mycobacterium / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D010088:Oxidoreductases / Q000235:genetics; D016415:Sequence Alignment
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D002338:Carotenoids; D010088:Oxidoreductases; C022398:phytoene dehydrogenase; D019883:Alkyl and Aryl Transferases; D051232:Geranylgeranyl-Diphosphate Geranylgeranyltransferase