The identification of enzymes for catalyzing unusual N-acylated bacterial lipoproteins

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25450118
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Applied microbiology
• Research Institution: Institute of Physical and Chemical Research
• Principal Investigator: Nakayama Hiroshi 国立研究開発法人理化学研究所, 環境資源科学研究センター, 専任研究員 (80321793)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: リポタンパク質 / Nアシル化酵素

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Since the lipoprotein N-acyltransferase homologs are not found in the genomes of low G+C Gram-positive bacteria, these bacteria are thought to have only N-terminal-free diacylated lipoproteins. However, we have discovered novel types of N-acylated lipoproteins in these bacteria, indicating that they have unusual N-acyltransferases and related enzymes. In this study, mass spectrometry-based method was improved significantly to detect the N-acylation of lipoproteins in a few picomole amount in a day or two. Then, a strain that have only diacylated lipoproteins was sought from the gene disrupted strains and genome deletion mutants of Bacillus subtilis. The search is still continued.

Free Research Field

分析化学