The Function of eryBVII Gene is to Epimerize TDP-6-Deoxy-L-threo-D-glycero-4-hexulose in the Biosynthesis of Erythromycin A

  • Kim, Won-Young (Department of Genetic Engineering, Institute of Biotechnology, Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology, and Hormone Research Center, Chonnam National University) ;
  • Kim, Choon-Keun (Department of Genetic Engineering, Institute of Biotechnology, Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology, and Hormone Research Center, Chonnam National University) ;
  • Han, Ok-Soo (Department of Genetic Engineering, Institute of Biotechnology, Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology, and Hormone Research Center, Chonnam National University)
  • Published : 1999.01.31

Abstract

In an effort to understand the function of the eryBVII gene in the erythromycin biosynthetic gene cluster, we overexpressed the eryBVII gene in E. coli and TDP-6-deoxy-L-threo-D-glycero-4-hexulose was used as a substrate of the overexpressed EryBVII enzyme. The enzymatic reaction product was chemically modified by reduction and peracetylation. Structural analysis of the derivatized enzymatic products by GC-Mass Spectrophotometry indicated that TDP-6-deoxy-L-threo-D-glycero-4-hexulose could be converted into its epimer by EryBVII enzyme. Based on this result, TDP-6-deoxy-L-threo-D-glycero-4-hexulose was indeed the substrate of EryBVII enzyme and the function of the eryBVII gene was confirmed.

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