Identification of the Elusive Pyruvate Reductase of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii Chloroplasts.

ABSTRACT: Under anoxic conditions the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii activates various fermentation pathways leading to the creation of formate, acetate, ethanol and small amounts of other metabolites including d-lactate and hydrogen. Progress has been made in identifying the enzymes involved in these pathways and their subcellular locations; however, the identity of the enzyme involved in reducing pyruvate to d-lactate has remained unclear. Based on sequence comparisons, enzyme activity measurements, X-ray crystallography, biochemical fractionation and analysis of knock-down mutants, we conclude that pyruvate reduction in the chloroplast is catalyzed by a tetrameric NAD(+)-dependent d-lactate dehydrogenase encoded by Cre07.g324550. Its expression during aerobic growth supports a possible func

SUBMITTER: Burgess SJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4722173 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature