Retinal is formed from apo-carotenoids in Nostoc sp. PCC7120: in vitro characterization of an apo-carotenoid oxygenase.

ABSTRACT: The sensory rhodopsin from Anabaena (Nostoc) sp. PCC7120 is the first cyanobacterial retinylidene protein identified. Here, we report on NosACO (Nostoc apo-carotenoid oxygenase), encoded by the ORF (open reading frame) all4284, as the candidate responsible for the formation of the required chromophore, retinal. In contrast with the enzymes from animals, NosACO converts beta-apo-carotenals instead of beta-carotene into retinal in vitro. The identity of the enzymatic products was proven by HPLC and gas chromatography-MS. NosACO exhibits a wide substrate specificity with respect to chain lengths and functional end-groups, converting beta-apo-carotenals, (3R)-3-hydroxy-beta-apo-carotenals and the corresponding alcohols into retinal and (3R)-3-hydroxyretinal respectively. However, kinetic analy

SUBMITTER: Scherzinger D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1559462 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature