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. 1981 Sep;147(3):914–919. doi: 10.1128/jb.147.3.914-919.1981

Proposed pathway of triterpenoid carotenoid biosynthesis in Staphylococcus aureus: evidence from a study of mutants.

J H Marshall, G J Wilmoth
PMCID: PMC216127  PMID: 7275937

Abstract

Mutants of Staphylococcus aureus were isolated which showed changes in pigment composition compared with the parent strain. On the basis of differences in their triterpenoid carotenoid composition they were classified into seven types. In five of these types, there appeared to be a blockage in the biosynthetic pathway which resulted in the absence of some products and accumulation of others. The changes in the other two types appeared to be a consequence of some change in regulation. A scheme for the biosynthesis of triterpenoid carotenoids is presented in which the first C30 intermediate, 4,4'-diapophytoene, is converted via 4,4'-diapophytofluene, 4,4'-diapo-zeta-carotene, 4,4'-diaponeurosporene, 4,4'-diaponeurosporenal, 4,4'-diaponeurosporenoic acid, and glucosyl-diaponeurosporenoate to the major pigment staphyloxanthin.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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