The Role of Tandem Acyl Carrier Protein Domains in Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Biosynthesis

• DOI: 10.1021/ja801911t
• Publication Date: 2008-04-29T06:00:46Z
• Authors: Hui Jiang; Ross Zirkle; James G. Metz; Lisa Braun; Leslie Richter; Steven G. Van Lanen; Ben Shen
• Keywords: Acyl carrier protein; Polyketide synthase

Acyl carrier protein (ACP) plays an essential role in fatty acid and polyketide biosynthesis, most of the synthases (FASs) (PKSs) known to date are characterized with a single ACP for each cycle chain elongation. Polyunsaturated (PUFA) biosynthesis is catalyzed by PUFA synthase, all contain tandem ACPs (ranging from 5 9). Using Pfa synthase Shewanella japonica as model system, we report here that these functionally equivalent regardless their physical location within subunit, but total number controls overall titer. These findings set stage interrogate other domains subunits roles controlling final products could potentially be exploited improve production.