Sll0254 (CrtL(diox)) is a bifunctional lycopene cyclase/dioxygenase in cyanobacteria producing myxoxanthophyll.

ABSTRACT: Upon depletion of Sll0254 in Synechocystis sp. strain PCC 6803, cyclized carotenoids were replaced by linear, relatively hydrophilic carotenoids, and the amount of the two photosystems decreased greatly. Full segregants of the sll0254 deletion in Synechocystis were not obtained, implying that this gene is essential for survival, most likely to allow normal cell division. The N-terminal half of Sll0254 has limited similarity to the family of lycopene cyclases, has an additional dehydrogenase motif near the N terminus, and is followed by a Rieske 2Fe-2S center sequence signature. To test whether Sll0254 serves as a lycopene cyclase in Synechocystis, the corresponding gene was expressed in Escherichia coli strains that can produce lycopene or neurosporene. In the presence of Sll0254 these lin

SUBMITTER: Mohamed HE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1447463 | biostudies-literature | 2006 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature