Acyl-acyl carrier protein as a source of fatty acids for bacterial bioluminescence

Journal Article · Sun Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1985 · Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.82.18.6085· OSTI ID:6381322

Byers, D M; Meighen, E A

Pulse-chase experiments with (/sup 3/H)tetradecanoic acid and ATP showed that the bioluminescence-related 32-kDa acyltransferase from Vibrio harveyi can specifically catalyze the deacylation of a /sup 3/H-labeled 18-kDa protein observed in extracts of this bacterium. The 18-kDa protein has been partially purified and its physical and chemical properties strongly indicate that it is fatty acyl-acyl carrier protein (acyl-ACP). Both this V. harveyi (/sup 3/H)acylprotein and (/sup 3/H)palmitoyl-ACP from Escherichia coli were substrates in vitro for either the V. harveyi 32-kDa acyltransferase or the analogous enzyme (34K) from Photobacterium phosphoreum. TLC analysis indicated that the hexane-soluble product of the reaction is fatty acid. No significant cleavage of either E. coli or V. harveyi tetradecanoyl-ACP was observed in extracts of these bacteria unless the 32-kDa or 34K acyltransferase was present. Since these enzymes are believed to be responsible for the supply of fatty acids for reduction to form the aldehyde substrate of luciferase, the above results suggest that long-chain acyl-ACP is the source of fatty acids for bioluminescence.

• Research Organization: McGill Univ., Montreal, Quebec
• OSTI ID: 6381322
• Journal Information: Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.; (United States), Journal Name: Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.; (United States) Vol. 82:18; ISSN PNASA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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550701 -- Microbiology-- Tracer Techniques
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ATP
BACTERIA
BIOCHEMISTRY
BIOSYNTHESIS
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
CHEMISTRY
CHROMATOGRAPHY
DECANOIC ACID
ESCHERICHIA COLI
HEXADECANOIC ACID
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
LUMINESCENCE
MICROORGANISMS
MONOCARBOXYLIC ACIDS
NUCLEOTIDES
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PHOTOLUMINESCENCE
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SYNTHESIS
THIN-LAYER CHROMATOGRAPHY
TRACER TECHNIQUES
TRITIUM COMPOUNDS