title: Construction of carotenoid biosynthetic pathways using squalene synthase.
abstract: The first committed steps of steroid/hopanoid pathways involve squalene synthase (SQS). Here, we report the Escherichia coli production of diaponeurosporene and diapolycopene, yellow C30 carotenoid pigments, by expressing human SQS and Staphylococcus aureus dehydrosqualene (C30 carotenoid) desaturase (CrtN). We suggest that the carotenoid pigments are synthesized mainly via the desaturation of squalene rather than the direct synthesis of dehydrosqualene through the non-reductive condensation of prenyl diphosphate precursors, indicating the possible existence of a "squalene route" and a "lycopersene route" for C30 and C40 carotenoids, respectively. Additionally, this finding yields a new method of colorimetric screening for the cellular activity of squalene synthases, which are major targets for cholesterol-lowering drugs.
authors: Department of Applied Chemistry and Biotechnology, Chiba University, 1-33, Yayoi-cho, Inage, Chiba 263-8522, Japan.
authors: Maiko
authors: M
authors: Furubayashi
authors: Department of Applied Chemistry and Biotechnology, Chiba University, 1-33, Yayoi-cho, Inage, Chiba 263-8522, Japan.
authors: Ling
authors: L
authors: Li
authors: Department of Applied Chemistry and Biotechnology, Chiba University, 1-33, Yayoi-cho, Inage, Chiba 263-8522, Japan.
authors: Akinori
authors: A
authors: Katabami
authors: Department of Applied Chemistry and Biotechnology, Chiba University, 1-33, Yayoi-cho, Inage, Chiba 263-8522, Japan.
authors: Kyoichi
authors: K
authors: Saito
authors: Department of Applied Chemistry and Biotechnology, Chiba University, 1-33, Yayoi-cho, Inage, Chiba 263-8522, Japan; Precursory Research for Embryonic Science and Technology (PRESTO), Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), 4-1-8 Honcho, Kawaguchi, Saitama 332-0012, Japan. Electronic address: umeno@faculty.chiba-u.jp.
authors: Daisuke
authors: D
authors: Umeno
mesh_terms: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D053898:Biosynthetic Pathways; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000201:enzymology; D013186:Farnesyl-Diphosphate Farnesyltransferase / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D010088:Oxidoreductases; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000201:enzymology
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D002338:Carotenoids; C008604:neurosporene; C091055:CrtN protein, Staphylococcus aureus; D010088:Oxidoreductases; D013186:Farnesyl-Diphosphate Farnesyltransferase
keywords: Carotenoid; Chimeric pathway; CrtB; CrtI; CrtM; CrtN; Desaturase; FPP; GGPP; Lycopersene; PSPP; SQS; Squalene; dehydrosqualene desaturase; dehydrosqualene synthase; farnesyl diphosphate; geranylgeranyl diphosphate; hSQS; human squalene synthase; phytoene desaturase; phytoene synthase; presqualene diphosphate; squalene synthase