An alternate pathway to the glyoxylate cycle

• Applicant: Dr. Birgit Alber
• Subject Area: Metabolism, Biochemistry and Genetics of Microorganisms
• Term: from 2005 to 2010
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 18468414

Plants and microorganisms are capable to synthesize all cell constituents from acetyl-CoA alone. The glyoxylate cycle, discovered by Kornberg and Krebs in 1957, is used. Isocitrate lyase (catalyzing the cleavage of isocitrate to succinate and glyoxylate) and malate synthase (catalyzing the condensation of glyoxylate and acetyl-CoA to form malate) are the key enzymes of this central metabolic pathway. Over the last 40 years it has been shown that there are organisms, which lack the key enzymes of the glyoxylate cycle and the genes encoding these. The goal of this proposal is to elucidate an alternate pathway for acetyl-CoA assimilation. As a model organism we will study the purple non-sulfur bacterium Rhodobacter sphaeroides. The genome of the organism is sequenced. We are using 13C-and 14C-tracer studies, mutant analyses, in vitro detection of enzyme activities, proteomic analysis, and comparative genome studies. We expect to gain further inside into the central carbon metabolism of bacteria.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• Participating Person: Professor Dr. Georg Fuchs