4,4′-Diapophytoene Desaturase: Catalytic Properties of an Enzyme from the C 30 Carotenoid Pathway of Staphylococcus aureus

Abstract

ABSTRACT Staphylococcus aureus synthesizes C 30 carotenoids. Their formation involves the introduction of three double bonds, which is catalyzed by a single enzyme. This enzyme, 4,4′-diapophytoene desaturase from S. aureus , was overexpressed in Escherichia coli and purified in one step by affinity chromatography, and then the protein was characterized with respect to substrate specificity, cofactor requirement, and oligomerization.