Recombinant Delftia acidovorans Lipoyl synthase (lipA)
Description
Lipoyl Synthase (LipA): General Function
LipA catalyzes the insertion of sulfur atoms into octanoyl-ACP to form lipoic acid, a cofactor essential for pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) and α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase complexes . In other bacteria (e.g., Staphylococcus aureus), LipA-mediated lipoylation of PDH’s E2 subunit modulates host immune responses by suppressing Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) activation .
LipA in Delftia acidovorans: Indirect Insights
While no studies explicitly describe recombinant Delftia acidovorans LipA, genomic and metabolic research on this bacterium provides clues:
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Genetic Engineering Potential: D. acidovorans DSM 39 is a well-characterized strain used in genetic engineering for polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) production . Recombinant strains have been engineered with lipase genes (e.g., lipH and lipC) to metabolize lipids .
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Lipoic Acid Metabolism: LipA homologs in related bacteria (e.g., Methylobacterium) are linked to defects in lipoic acid synthesis, impairing metabolic pathways like the citric acid cycle .
Table 1: LipA Characteristics in Bacterial Systems
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Immune Modulation: S. aureus LipA suppresses TLR2 activation by releasing lipoyl-E2-PDH, reducing pro-inflammatory cytokine production .
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Metabolic Defects: Methylobacterium hbd lipA mutants show disrupted lipoic acid synthesis, affecting PHB degradation and R-3-hydroxybutyrate production .
Applications and Relevance to Delftia acidovorans
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Biopolymer Production: Recombinant D. acidovorans strains engineered with lipase genes produce PHAs from lipid wastes (e.g., slaughterhouse residues) . LipA could theoretically enhance lipid metabolism in such systems.
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Bioremediation: D. acidovorans degrades organofluorine compounds via dehalogenases , but LipA’s role in these pathways remains unexplored.
Research Gaps and Future Directions
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Functional Studies: No direct evidence exists for LipA’s role in D. acidovorans. Heterologous expression and purification of recombinant LipA could clarify its enzymatic activity.
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Industrial Applications: Engineering D. acidovorans with optimized LipA might improve lipid-to-PHA conversion efficiency or enable novel biocatalytic processes.
Product Specs
Target Background
KEGG: dac:Daci_0410
STRING: 398578.Daci_0410
