Biosynthesis of soluble carotenoid holoproteins in Escherichia coli.

ABSTRACT: Carotenoids are widely distributed natural pigments that are excellent antioxidants acting in photoprotection. They are typically solubilized in membranes or attached to proteins. In cyanobacteria, the photoactive soluble Orange Carotenoid Protein (OCP) is involved in photoprotective mechanisms as a highly active singlet oxygen and excitation energy quencher. Here we describe a method for producing large amounts of holo-OCP in E.coli. The six different genes involved in the synthesis of holo-OCP were introduced into E. coli using three different plasmids. The choice of promoters and the order of gene induction were important: the induction of genes involved in carotenoid synthesis must precede the induction of the ocp gene in order to obtain holo-OCPs. Active holo-OCPs with primary structu

SUBMITTER: Bourcier de Carbon C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4358027 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature