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investigation of the fatty acid synthase of Gymnodinium breve, a marine dinoflagellate

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Date Issued:
2000
Summary:
Gymnodinium breve is responsible for toxic blooms causing epizootics and, in humans, neurotoxic shellfish poisoning. Toxicity is from a family of polyketides known as brevetoxins. Proposed biosynthetic mechanisms of brevetoxin production are analogous to fatty acid biosynthesis. As part of an investigation of brevetoxin production, the fatty acid synthase from Gymnodinium breve was characterized. Cell free extracts of G. breve incorporated [3H]-acetate and [3H]-acetyl-CoA into palmitate with lesser incorporation into stearate, myristate, and laurate. Fatty acid synthase activity was associated with the chloroplast, appeared to be composed of membrane-associated and soluble components, and was not completely inhibited by cerulenin. These results suggests that G. breve possesses a Type II fatty acid synthase similar in organization to those found in other photosynthetic organisms. Isolation of the enzymes, on both an enzymatic and genomic level, were hindered by low amounts G. breve cells and bacteria present within the cultures.
Title: An investigation of the fatty acid synthase of Gymnodinium breve, a marine dinoflagellate.
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Name(s): Borrone, James William.
Florida Atlantic University, Degree grantor
Kerr, Russell G., Thesis advisor
Type of Resource: text
Genre: Electronic Thesis Or Dissertation
Issuance: monographic
Date Issued: 2000
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Place of Publication: Boca Raton, Fla.
Physical Form: application/pdf
Extent: 123 p.
Language(s): English
Summary: Gymnodinium breve is responsible for toxic blooms causing epizootics and, in humans, neurotoxic shellfish poisoning. Toxicity is from a family of polyketides known as brevetoxins. Proposed biosynthetic mechanisms of brevetoxin production are analogous to fatty acid biosynthesis. As part of an investigation of brevetoxin production, the fatty acid synthase from Gymnodinium breve was characterized. Cell free extracts of G. breve incorporated [3H]-acetate and [3H]-acetyl-CoA into palmitate with lesser incorporation into stearate, myristate, and laurate. Fatty acid synthase activity was associated with the chloroplast, appeared to be composed of membrane-associated and soluble components, and was not completely inhibited by cerulenin. These results suggests that G. breve possesses a Type II fatty acid synthase similar in organization to those found in other photosynthetic organisms. Isolation of the enzymes, on both an enzymatic and genomic level, were hindered by low amounts G. breve cells and bacteria present within the cultures.
Identifier: 9780599954335 (isbn), 12711 (digitool), FADT12711 (IID), fau:9592 (fedora)
Collection: FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection
Note(s): Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2000.
Subject(s): Ptychodiscus brevis
Fatty acids--Synthesis
Held by: Florida Atlantic University Libraries
Persistent Link to This Record: http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/12711
Sublocation: Digital Library
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Host Institution: FAU
Is Part of Series: Florida Atlantic University Digital Library Collections.