title: A multifunctional enzyme is involved in bacterial ether lipid biosynthesis.
abstract: Fatty acid-derived ether lipids are present not only in most vertebrates but also in some bacteria. Here we describe what is to our knowledge the first gene cluster involved in the biosynthesis of such lipids in myxobacteria that encodes the multifunctional enzyme ElbD, which shows similarity to polyketide synthases. Initial characterization of elbD mutants in Myxococcus xanthus and Stigmatella aurantiaca showed the importance of these ether lipids for fruiting body formation and sporulation.
authors.affiliation: Merck-Stiftungsprofessur für Molekulare Biotechnologie, Fachbereich Biowissenschaften, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany.
authors.forename: Wolfram
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lorenzen
authors.affiliation: Merck-Stiftungsprofessur für Molekulare Biotechnologie, Fachbereich Biowissenschaften, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany.
authors.forename: Tilman
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ahrendt
authors.affiliation: Merck-Stiftungsprofessur für Molekulare Biotechnologie, Fachbereich Biowissenschaften, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany.
authors.forename: Kenan A J
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Bozhüyük
authors.affiliation: Merck-Stiftungsprofessur für Molekulare Biotechnologie, Fachbereich Biowissenschaften, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany.
authors.forename: Helge B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Bode
mesh_terms: D020134:Catalytic Domain; D004987:Ethers; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D016680:Genome, Bacterial; D008055:Lipids / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D064251:Multifunctional Enzymes / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D005810:Multigene Family; D016941:Myxococcus xanthus / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D013171:Spores, Bacterial / Q000502:physiology; D020606:Stigmatella aurantiaca / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D004987:Ethers; D008055:Lipids; D064251:Multifunctional Enzymes