Biosynthesis of 2-hydroxy and iso-even fatty acids is connected to sphingolipid formation in myxobacteria.
2-Hydroxy fatty acids can be found in several different organisms, including bacteria. In this study, we have studied the biosynthesis of 2-hydroxy fatty acids in the myxobacteria Myxococcus xanthus and Stigmatella aurantiaca, resulting in the identification of a family of stereospecific fatty acid alpha-hydroxylases. Although the stereospecificities of the hydroxylases differ between these two species, they share a common function in supporting fatty acid alpha-oxidation; that is, the oxidative shortening of fatty acids. Whereas in S. aurantiaca this process takes place during normal vegetative growth, in M. xanthus it takes place only under developmental conditions. We were also able to identify serine palmitoyltransferase encoding genes involved in sphingolipid biosynthesis as well as sphingolipids themselves in both types of myxobacteria, and were able to show that the alpha-hydroxylation reaction is in fact dependent on the presence of fatty acids bound to sphingolipids.
Ring
Michael W
MW
Institut für Pharmazeutische Biotechnologie, Universität des Saarlandes, 66041 Saarbrücken (Germany).
Schwär
Gertrud
G
Bode
Helge B
HB
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry*; D006900:Hydroxylation; D006899:Mixed Function Oxygenases / Q000378:metabolism; D016941:Myxococcus xanthus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D051102:Serine C-Palmitoyltransferase / Q000378:metabolism; D013107:Sphingolipids / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D013237:Stereoisomerism; D013997:Time Factors
D005227:Fatty Acids; D013107:Sphingolipids; D006899:Mixed Function Oxygenases; D051102:Serine C-Palmitoyltransferase