Heterologous expression of astaxanthin biosynthesis genes in Mucor circinelloides.
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.
Papp
Tamás
T
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Szeged, P.O. Box 533, 6701, Szeged, Hungary. pappt@bio.u-szeged.hu
Velayos
Antonio
A
Bartók
Tibor
T
Eslava
Arturo P
AP
Vágvölgyi
Csaba
C
Iturriaga
Enrique A
EA
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
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