A multifunctional enzyme is involved in bacterial ether lipid biosynthesis

Wolfram Lorenzen; Tilman Ahrendt; Kenan A J Bozhüyük; Helge B Bode

doi:10.1038/nchembio.1526

A multifunctional enzyme is involved in bacterial ether lipid biosynthesis

Nat Chem Biol. 2014 Jun;10(6):425-7. doi: 10.1038/nchembio.1526. Epub 2014 May 11.

Authors

Wolfram Lorenzen¹, Tilman Ahrendt¹, Kenan A J Bozhüyük¹, Helge B Bode¹

Affiliation

¹ Merck-Stiftungsprofessur für Molekulare Biotechnologie, Fachbereich Biowissenschaften, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany.

PMID: 24814673
DOI: 10.1038/nchembio.1526

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.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Catalytic Domain
Ethers
Genes, Bacterial
Genome, Bacterial
Lipids / biosynthesis*
Lipids / chemistry
Molecular Sequence Data
Multifunctional Enzymes / genetics
Multifunctional Enzymes / physiology*
Multigene Family*
Myxococcus xanthus / enzymology*
Myxococcus xanthus / genetics
Myxococcus xanthus / physiology
Spores, Bacterial / physiology
Stigmatella aurantiaca / enzymology*
Stigmatella aurantiaca / genetics
Stigmatella aurantiaca / physiology

Substances

Ethers
Lipids
Multifunctional Enzymes

Associated data

GENBANK/KJ633122
GENBANK/KJ633123
GENBANK/KJ633124
GENBANK/KJ633125