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The methylerythritol phosphate pathway contributes to carotenoid but not phytol biosynthesis in Euglena gracilis
Dojung Kim1, Michael R Filtz, Philip J Proteau
1College of Pharmacy, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331-3507, USA.
Abstract:
The biosynthesis of diadinoxanthin and beta-carotene in Euglena gracilis was examined using [1-13C]-D-glucose and [5,5-2H2]-1-deoxy-D-xylulose. In contrast to previous studies on isoprenoid biosynthesis in E. gracilis, the results demonstrate a role for the methylerythritol phosphate (MEP) pathway, along with the mevalonate pathway, in carotenoid biosynthesis. Interestingly, the MEP pathway is not involved in the biosynthesis of phytol, a result not previously observed for other chloroplast-containing organisms.
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