Biosynthesis of Ubiquinone in Escherichia coli K-12: Location of Genes Affecting the Metabolism of 3-Octaprenyl-4-hydroxybenzoic Acid and 2-Octaprenylphenol

Abstract

Two genes ( ubiB and ubiD ) concerned with two successive reactions in ubiquinone biosynthesis in Escherichia coli were mapped and found to be closely linked. Mutant strains of E. coli carrying the ubiB − and ubiD − alleles were shown to accumulate 2-octaprenylphenol and 3-octaprenyl-4-hydroxybenzoic acid, respectively. These compounds were isolated and identified by using nuclear magnetic resonance and mass and infrared spectroscopy. Cell extracts from the mutant strain carrying the ubiD − allele lack 3-octaprenyl-4-hydroxybenzoate decarboxylase activity.