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A New Prokaryotic Farnesyldiphosphate Synthase from the Octocoral Eunicea fusca: Differential Display, Inverse PCR, Cloning, and Characterization
Marine Biotechnology
  • Llanie K. Ranzer, Florida Atlantic University
  • Thomas B. Bruck, Florida Atlantic University
  • Wolfram M. Brück, Letterkenny Institute of Technology - Ireland
  • Jose V Lopez, Nova Southeastern University
  • Russell G. Kerr, Florida Atlantic University; University of Prince Edward Island - Canada
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2-1-2009
Keywords
  • Fuscol,
  • Famesyl diphosphate synthase,
  • Differential display,
  • IPCR,
  • Characterization,
  • Gorgonian
Abstract

We recently reported that the biosynthesis of fuscol, a diterpene from the octocoral Eunicea fusca, is inducible by the application of plant signaling factors such as salicylic acid to the coral’s algal symbiont. In this study, an mRNA differential display approach has been employed with the dinoflagellate symbiont of this octocoral which has led to the isolation of a farnesyldiphosphate synthase (FPPS) that was transcriptionally activated under conditions that led to an induction of fuscol biosynthesis. Using a degenerate primer based on the aspartate-rich motifs found in prenylsynthases and a cassette ligation strategy, we report the cloning of the complete FPPS associated with the E. fusca dinoflagellate symbiont Symbiodinium sp. The protein exhibited the enzymatic properties associated with FPPS, namely, the synthesis of farnesyl diphosphate from geranyldiphosphate and isopentenyl diphosphate. The amino acid sequence of this FPPS has a high sequence similarity (82%) to known archaeal isoprenyl diphosphate synthases. This is the first description of a prokaryotic FPPS derived from a marine source.

Comments

©Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2008

Additional Comments
Florida Sea Grant #: R/LR-MB-14
ORCID ID
0000-0002-1637-4125
ResearcherID
F-8809-2011
DOI
10.1007/s10126-008-9120-y
Citation Information
Llanie K. Ranzer, Thomas B. Bruck, Wolfram M. Brück, Jose V Lopez, et al.. "A New Prokaryotic Farnesyldiphosphate Synthase from the Octocoral Eunicea fusca: Differential Display, Inverse PCR, Cloning, and Characterization" Marine Biotechnology Vol. 11 Iss. 1 (2009) p. 62 - 73 ISSN: 1436-2228
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/jose-lopez/219/