Undecaprenyl diphosphate synthase, a cis-prenyltransferase synthesizing lipid carrier for bacterial cell wall biosynthesis

Abstract

A group of prenyltransferases produce linear lipids by catalyzing consecutive condensation reactions of farnesyl diphosphate (FPP) with specific numbers of isopentenyl diphosphate (IPP), a common building block of isoprenoid compounds. Depending on the stereochemistry of the double bonds formed during IPP condensation, these prenyltransferases are categorized as cis- and trans-types. Undecaprenyl diphosphate synthase (UPPS) that catalyzes chain elongation of FPP by consecutive condensation reactions with eight IPP, to form C₅₅ lipid carrier for bacterial cell wall biosynthesis, serves as a model for understanding cis-prenyltransferases. In this review, the current knowledge in UPPS kinetics, mechanisms, structures, and inhibitors is summarized.

Keywords::

• Isoprenoid
• prenyltransferase
• mechanism
• pre-steady-state kinetics
• conformational change
• inhibitor

Declaration of interest: We are grateful to the funds from National Science Council (grant number: 99-2113-M-001-014-MY3) and Academia Sinica of Taiwan ROC for supporting our research. The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.