Skip to main content

IMIS

A new integrated search interface will become available in the next phase of marineinfo.org.
For the time being, please use IMIS to search available data

 

[ report an error in this record ]basket (0): add | show Print this page

Disentangling the lipid divide: Identification of key enzymes for the biosynthesis of membrane-spanning and ether lipids in bacteria
Sahonero Canavesi, D.X.; Siliakus, M.F.; Abdala Asbun, A.; Koenen, M.; von Meijenfeldt, F. A.B.; Boeren, S.; Bale, N.J.; Engelmann, J.C.; Fiege, K.; Strack van Schijndel, L.; Sinninghe Damsté, J.S.; Villanueva, L. (2022). Disentangling the lipid divide: Identification of key enzymes for the biosynthesis of membrane-spanning and ether lipids in bacteria. Science Advances 8(50). https://dx.doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.abq8652
In: Science Advances. AAAS: New York. e-ISSN 2375-2548, more
Peer reviewed article  

Available in  Authors 

Authors  Top 
  • Sahonero Canavesi, D., more
  • Siliakus, M.F.
  • Abdala Asbun, A., more
  • Koenen, M., more
  • von Meijenfeldt, F. A.B., more
  • Boeren, S.
  • Bale, N.J., more
  • Engelmann, J.C., more
  • Fiege, K.
  • Strack van Schijndel, L.
  • Sinninghe Damsté, J.S., more
  • Villanueva, L., more

Abstract
    Bacterial membranes are composed of fatty acids (FAs) ester-linked to glycerol-3-phosphate, while archaea have membranes made of isoprenoid chains ether-linked to glycerol-1-phosphate. Many archaeal species organize their membrane as a monolayer of membrane-spanning lipids (MSLs). Exceptions to this “lipid divide” are the production by some bacterial species of (ether-bound) MSLs, formed by tail-to-tail condensation of FAs resulting in the formation of (iso) diabolic acids (DAs), which are the likely precursors of paleoclimatological relevant branched glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraether molecules. However, the enzymes responsible for their production are unknown. Here, we report the discovery of bacterial enzymes responsible for the condensation reaction of FAs and for ether bond formation and confirm that the building blocks of iso-DA are branched iso-FAs. Phylogenomic analyses of the key biosynthetic genes reveal a much wider diversity of potential MSL (ether)–producing bacteria than previously thought, with importantt implications for our understanding of the evolution of lipid membranes.

All data in the Integrated Marine Information System (IMIS) is subject to the VLIZ privacy policy Top | Authors