Two genes encoding new carotenoid-modifying enzymes in the green sulfur bacterium Chlorobium tepidum

Julia A. Maresca, Donald A. Bryant

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

30 Scopus citations

Abstract

The green sulfur bacterium Chlorobium tepidum produces chlorobactene as its primary carotenoid. Small amounts of chlorobactene are hydroxylated by the enzyme CrtC and then glucosylated and acylated to produce chlorobactene glucoside laurate. The genes encoding the enzymes responsible for these modifications of chlorobactene, CT1987, and CT0967, have been identified by comparative genomics, and these genes were insertionally inactivated in C. tepidum to verify their predicted function. The gene encoding chlorobactene glucosyltransferase (CT1987) has been named cruC, and the gene encoding chlorobactene lauroyltransferase (CT0967) has been named cruD. Homologs of these genes are found in the genomes of all sequenced green sulfur bacteria and filamentous anoxygenic phototrophs as well as in the genomes of several nonphotosynthetic bacteria that produce similarly modified carotenoids. The other bacteria in which these genes are found are not closely related to green sulfur bacteria or to one another. This suggests that the ability to synthesize modified carotenoids has been a frequently transferred trait.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)6217-6223
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of bacteriology
Volume188
Issue number17
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 2006

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Microbiology
  • Molecular Biology

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