An insect-specific P450 oxidative decarbonylase for cuticular hydrocarbon biosynthesis.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
; 109(37): 14858-63, 2012 Sep 11.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-22927409
ABSTRACT
Insects use hydrocarbons as cuticular waterproofing agents and as contact pheromones. Although their biosynthesis from fatty acyl precursors is well established, the last step of hydrocarbon biosynthesis from long-chain fatty aldehydes has remained mysterious. We show here that insects use a P450 enzyme of the CYP4G family to oxidatively produce hydrocarbons from aldehydes. Oenocyte-directed RNAi knock-down of Drosophila CYP4G1 or NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase results in flies deficient in cuticular hydrocarbons, highly susceptible to desiccation, and with reduced viability upon adult emergence. The heterologously expressed enzyme converts C(18)-trideuterated octadecanal to C(17)-trideuterated heptadecane, showing that the insect enzyme is an oxidative decarbonylase that catalyzes the cleavage of long-chain aldehydes to hydrocarbons with the release of carbon dioxide. This process is unlike cyanobacteria that use a nonheme diiron decarbonylase to make alkanes from aldehydes with the release of formate. The unique and highly conserved insect CYP4G enzymes are a key evolutionary innovation that allowed their colonization of land.
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
NADPH-Ferrihemoproteína Reductasa
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Sistema Enzimático del Citocromo P-450
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Drosophila
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Vías Biosintéticas
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Exoesqueleto
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Hidrocarburos
Límite:
Animals
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
Año:
2012
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Estados Unidos