Characterization of a Squalene Synthase from the Thraustochytrid Microalga Aurantiochytrium sp. KRS101

• Published in: Journal of microbiology and biotechnology Vol. 23; no. 6; pp. 759 - 765
• Main Authors: Hong, W.K., Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Jeonbuk, Republic of korea, Heo, S.Y., Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Jeonbuk, Republic of korea, Park, H.M., Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Jeonbuk, Republic of korea, Kim, C.H., Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Jeonbuk, Republic of korea, Sohn, J.H., Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Daejeon, Republic of korea, Kondo, A., Kobe University, Kobe, Japan, Seo, J.W., Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Jeonbuk, Republic of korea
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Seoul Korean Society for Applied Microbiology 01.06.2013; 한국미생물·생명공학회
• Subjects: Amino Acid Motifs; Aurantiochytrium,squalene synthase ,gene analysis ,functional characterization; Biological and medical sciences; Biotechnology; Cloning, Molecular; Coenzymes - metabolism; Conserved Sequence; Escherichia coli - genetics; Exons; Farnesyl-Diphosphate Farnesyltransferase - chemistry; Farnesyl-Diphosphate Farnesyltransferase - genetics; Farnesyl-Diphosphate Farnesyltransferase - metabolism; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; GENE; Gene Expression; GENES; Introns; Magnesium - metabolism; Molecular Weight; NADP - metabolism; Open Reading Frames; Polyisoprenyl Phosphates - metabolism; Sesquiterpenes - metabolism; Squalene - metabolism; Stramenopiles - enzymology; 생물학; Characterization; squalene synthase; Gene; Aurantiochytrium; Enzyme; Transferases; Algae; Farnesyl-diphosphate farnesyltransferase; gene analysis; functional characterization
• ISSN: 1017-7825; 1738-8872
• DOI: 10.4014/jmb.1212.12023

The gene encoding squalene synthase (SQS) of the lipidproducing heterotrophic microalga Aurantiochytrium sp. KRS101 was cloned and characterized. The krsSQS gene is 1,551 bp in length and has two exons and one intron. The open reading frame of the gene is 1,164 bp in length, yielding a polypeptide of 387 predicted amino acid residues with a molecular mass of 42.7 kDa. The deduced krsSQS sequence shares at least four conserved regions known to be required for SQS enzymatic activity in other species. The protein, tagged with His6, was expressed into soluble form in Escherichia coli. The purified protein catalyzed the conversion of farnesyl diphosphate to squalene in the presence of NADPH and Mg2+. This is the first report on the characterization of an SQS from a Thraustochytrid microalga.