Isoprenoids are one of the largest and most structurally diverse groups of metabolites in nature.  To date, there are more than 50,000 known isoprenoids, which represent 25 � 30% of known natural products.  There are two different pathways for the biosynthesis of the two isoprenoid precursors, isopentenyl diphosphate (IPP) and its isomer dimethylallyl diphosphate (DMAPP): (1) the DXP pathway in green algae, the chloroplasts of higher plants, and most eubacteria; and (2) the mevalonic acid (MVA) pathway in animals, fungi, and archaebacteria.  As one of the rate-limiting steps of the DXP pathway, an iron-sulfur cluster containing IspH protein catalyzes the formation of both IPP and DMAPP. The gene has been identified for almost a decade.  However, the reported IspH activity is very low and there are no reported mechanistic studies.  Our efforts on improving the activity by almost 100-fold and studies on narrowing down mechanistic options are presented.

Mechanistic studies of IspH enzyme in E. coli isoprenoid biosynthesis

239th National Meeting (2010)

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