title: Heterologous expression of astaxanthin biosynthesis genes in Mucor circinelloides.
abstract: Most Mucor species accumulate beta-carotene as the main carotenoid. The crtW and crtZ astaxanthin biosynthesis genes from Agrobacterium aurantiacum were placed under the control of Mucor circinelloides expression signals. Expression vectors containing the bacterial genes were constructed, and PEG-mediated transformations were performed on a selected M. circinelloides strain. Transformants that exhibited altered carotene production were isolated and analyzed. Southern analysis showed that all plasmids behave as autoreplicative elements. Northern analysis detected the actual heterologous transcription products, whereas thin layer chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography studies revealed the presence of new carotenoid compounds and intermediates among the transformants.
authors: Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Szeged, P.O. Box 533, 6701, Szeged, Hungary. pappt@bio.u-szeged.hu
authors: Tamás
authors: T
authors: Papp
authors: Antonio
authors: A
authors: Velayos
authors: Tibor
authors: T
authors: Bartók
authors: Arturo P
authors: AP
authors: Eslava
authors: Csaba
authors: C
authors: Vágvölgyi
authors: Enrique A
authors: EA
authors: Iturriaga
mesh_terms: D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000032:analysis; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D002855:Chromatography, Thin Layer; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D015870:Gene Expression; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D009089:Mucor / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D010105:Oxygenases / Q000235:genetics*; D010957:Plasmids; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D012329:RNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012231:Rhizobium / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014170:Transformation, Genetic; D024341:Xanthophylls; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D012329:RNA, Bacterial; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D024341:Xanthophylls; D019207:beta Carotene; D002338:Carotenoids; C005948:astaxanthine; D010105:Oxygenases; C093259:beta-carotene ketolase