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Isoprene biosynthesis in Bacillus subtilis via the methylerythritol phosphate pathway
1Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309-0215, USA.
Journal of Natural Products
|January 29, 2000
Summary
Bacillus subtilis produces isoprene via the methylerythritol phosphate pathway, similar to plants. This study clarifies the metabolic origins of this abundant volatile in bacteria.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Biochemistry
- Metabolic Engineering
Background:
- Isoprene (2-methyl-1,3-butadiene) is a significant volatile produced by Bacillus subtilis, but its metabolic origins remain unclear.
- While known in plants, the biosynthetic pathway for isoprene in bacteria has not been elucidated.
- Understanding isoprene production in B. subtilis is crucial for potential biotechnological applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the metabolic pathways responsible for isoprene biosynthesis in Bacillus subtilis.
- To determine if isoprene production in B. subtilis utilizes the mevalonate pathway or the methylerythritol phosphate pathway.
- To establish B. subtilis as a model organism for studying isoprene biochemistry.
Main Methods:
- Utilized stable isotope labeling with carbon-13 ((13)C) and deuterium ((2)H) to trace metabolic flux.
- Analyzed released isoprene using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) to identify labeled precursors.
- Compared labeling patterns with known isoprenoid synthesis pathways.
Main Results:
- Isoprene formation in B. subtilis does not originate from the mevalonate pathway or leucine catabolism.
- Evidence strongly supports the methylerythritol phosphate (MEP) pathway as the source of isoprene in B. subtilis.
- The identified pathway mirrors that of isoprene synthesis observed in plant systems.
Conclusions:
- The methylerythritol phosphate pathway is the primary route for isoprene biosynthesis in Bacillus subtilis.
- This research confirms the conservation of the MEP pathway for isoprene production across different life domains.
- Bacillus subtilis serves as a viable microbial model for in-depth biochemical studies of isoprene formation.
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