Role of malic enzyme during fatty acid synthesis in the oleaginous fungus Mortierella alpina

Appl Environ Microbiol. 2014 May;80(9):2672-8. doi: 10.1128/AEM.00140-14. Epub 2014 Feb 14.

Abstract

The generation of NADPH by malic enzyme (ME) was postulated to be a rate-limiting step during fatty acid synthesis in oleaginous fungi, based primarily on the results from research focusing on ME in Mucor circinelloides. This hypothesis is challenged by a recent study showing that leucine metabolism, rather than ME, is critical for fatty acid synthesis in M. circinelloides. To clarify this, the gene encoding ME isoform E from Mortierella alpina was homologously expressed. ME overexpression increased the fatty acid content by 30% compared to that for a control. Our results suggest that ME may not be the sole rate-limiting enzyme, but does play a role, during fatty acid synthesis in oleaginous fungi.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Fatty Acids / biosynthesis*
  • Fungal Proteins / genetics
  • Fungal Proteins / metabolism*
  • Malate Dehydrogenase / genetics
  • Malate Dehydrogenase / metabolism*
  • Mortierella / enzymology*
  • Mortierella / genetics
  • Mortierella / metabolism

Substances

  • Fatty Acids
  • Fungal Proteins
  • Malate Dehydrogenase