Characterization of a farnesyl diphosphate synthase gene from Penicillium brevicompactum MUCL 19011.
OBJECTIVE
Farnesyl diphosphate synthase is a critical enzyme in the isoprenoids biosynthesis pathway responsible for ergosterol and secondary metabolites biosynthesis in fungi.


RESULTS
Characterization of fds from Penicillium brevicompactum (Pbfds) was performed using TAIL-PCR and RT-PCR followed by complementation tests in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and determination of its expression profile by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. Promoter analysis suggests some binding sites for transcription factors some of which are involved in fungal growth and response to environmental stress. The Pbfds ORF encodes a cytosolic 39.7 kDa protein with a high conservation among Eurotiomycetes and the highest identity (96 %) with Pen. chrysogenum. Homology-based structural modeling suggests that the PbFDS is formed by the arrangement of 15 core helices around a large central cavity where the catalytic reaction takes place. Superimposition of the predicted 3D structure of the enzyme on its ortholog in human reveals the same folding pattern in the counterparts.


CONCLUSIONS
The Pbfds expression may be stimulated in response to the environmental stresses and fungal growth and encodes the PBFDS--a cytosolic enzyme which with a key role in ergosterol and secondary metabolites biosynthesis.
Department of Systems Biotechnology, Institute of Industrial and Environmental Biotechnology, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (NIGEB), Tehran, Iran. sharifirad@nigeb.ac.ir.
Atefeh
A
Sharifirad
Department of Systems Biotechnology, Institute of Industrial and Environmental Biotechnology, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (NIGEB), Tehran, Iran. so.mohamadian@gmail.com.
Somayeh
S
Mohammadian
Department of Systems Biotechnology, Institute of Industrial and Environmental Biotechnology, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (NIGEB), Tehran, Iran. bahar@nigeb.ac.ir.
Bagher
B
Yakhchali
Department of Systems Biotechnology, Institute of Industrial and Environmental Biotechnology, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (NIGEB), Tehran, Iran. cna6888@gmail.com.
Sina
S
Mehrpooyan
Department of Systems Biotechnology, Institute of Industrial and Environmental Biotechnology, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (NIGEB), Tehran, Iran. sfatemi@nigeb.ac.ir.
Seyed Safa-ali
SS
Fatemi
D001665:Binding Sites; D003001:Cloning, Molecular / Q000379:methods*; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling / Q000379:methods; D051228:Geranyltranstransferase / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008958:Models, Molecular; D010407:Penicillium / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism
D005656:Fungal Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D051228:Geranyltranstransferase
Farnesyl diphosphate synthase; Functional complementation; Penicillium brevicompactum; Promoter analysis; Saccharomyces cerevisiae; TAIL-PCR