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Thapa HR, Naik MT, Okada S, Takada K, Molnár I, Xu Y, Devarenne TP. A squalene synthase-like enzyme initiates production of tetraterpenoid hydrocarbons in Botryococcus braunii Race L. Nat Commun 2016; 7:11198. [PMID: 27050299 PMCID: PMC4823828 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms11198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2016] [Accepted: 02/29/2016] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The green microalga Botryococcus braunii is considered a promising biofuel feedstock producer due to its prodigious accumulation of hydrocarbon oils that can be converted into fuels. B. braunii Race L produces the C40 tetraterpenoid hydrocarbon lycopadiene via an uncharacterized biosynthetic pathway. Structural similarities suggest this pathway follows a biosynthetic mechanism analogous to that of C30 squalene. Confirming this hypothesis, the current study identifies C20 geranylgeranyl diphosphate (GGPP) as a precursor for lycopaoctaene biosynthesis, the first committed intermediate in the production of lycopadiene. Two squalene synthase (SS)-like complementary DNAs are identified in race L with one encoding a true SS and the other encoding an enzyme with lycopaoctaene synthase (LOS) activity. Interestingly, LOS uses alternative C15 and C20 prenyl diphosphate substrates to produce combinatorial hybrid hydrocarbons, but almost exclusively uses GGPP in vivo. This discovery highlights how SS enzyme diversification results in the production of specialized tetraterpenoid oils in race L of B. braunii. The green microalga Botryococcus braunii is a promising biofuel producer due to its ability to produce large amounts of hydrocarbon oils that can be converted into fuels. Here the authors implicate lycopaoctaene synthase, a squalene synthases-like enzyme, in the first step towards the biosynthesis of the C40 tetraterpenoid hydrocarbon lycopadiene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hem R Thapa
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, USA
| | - Mandar T Naik
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, USA.,Biomolecular NMR Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, USA
| | - Shigeru Okada
- Laboratory of Aquatic Natural Products Chemistry, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Yayoi, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan.,Japan Science and Technology Agency-Core Research for Evolutional Science and Technology (CREST), Gobancho, Chiyoda, Tokyo 102-0076, Japan
| | - Kentaro Takada
- Laboratory of Aquatic Natural Products Chemistry, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Yayoi, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan.,Japan Science and Technology Agency-Core Research for Evolutional Science and Technology (CREST), Gobancho, Chiyoda, Tokyo 102-0076, Japan
| | - István Molnár
- Natural Products Center, School of Natural Resources and the Environment, The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85739, USA
| | - Yuquan Xu
- Natural Products Center, School of Natural Resources and the Environment, The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85739, USA.,Biotechnology Research Institute, The Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Timothy P Devarenne
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, USA
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Furubayashi M, Li L, Katabami A, Saito K, Umeno D. Construction of carotenoid biosynthetic pathways using squalene synthase. FEBS Lett 2013; 588:436-42. [PMID: 24333579 DOI: 10.1016/j.febslet.2013.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2013] [Revised: 11/28/2013] [Accepted: 12/03/2013] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maiko Furubayashi
- Department of Applied Chemistry and Biotechnology, Chiba University, 1-33, Yayoi-cho, Inage, Chiba 263-8522, Japan
| | - Ling Li
- Department of Applied Chemistry and Biotechnology, Chiba University, 1-33, Yayoi-cho, Inage, Chiba 263-8522, Japan
| | - Akinori Katabami
- Department of Applied Chemistry and Biotechnology, Chiba University, 1-33, Yayoi-cho, Inage, Chiba 263-8522, Japan
| | - Kyoichi Saito
- Department of Applied Chemistry and Biotechnology, Chiba University, 1-33, Yayoi-cho, Inage, Chiba 263-8522, Japan
| | - Daisuke Umeno
- 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.
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4
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Shirley I, Smith IH, Whiting DA. Synthesis of “pre-presqualene′, a predicated intermediate in presqualene biosynthesis, and of prenylogues. Tetrahedron Lett 1982. [DOI: 10.1016/s0040-4039(00)87143-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
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13
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Johnson JH, Reed BC, Rilling HC. Early Photoinduced Enzymes of Photoinduced Carotenogenesis in a Mycobacterium Species. J Biol Chem 1974. [DOI: 10.1016/s0021-9258(19)43044-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022] Open
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