Regulation of fatty acid desaturation in Bacillus subtilis

MANSILLA, M; AGUILAR, P; ALBANESI, D; CYBULSKI, L; ALTABE, SILVIA GRACIELA; DE MENDOZA, D

PROSTAGLANDINS LEUKOTRIENES AND ESSENTIAL FATTY ACIDS

ELSEVIER SCI LTD

Lugar: Edimburgo; Año: 2003 vol. 68 p. 187 - 190

0952-3278

The Des pathway of Bacillus subtilis regulates the expression of the acyl-lipid desaturase, Des, thereby controlling the synthesis ofunsaturated fatty acids from saturated phospholipid precursors. Activation of this pathway takes place when cells are shifted to lowgrowth temperature or when they are grown in minimal media in the absence of isoleucine supplies. The master switch for the Despathway is a two-component regulatory system composed of a membrane-associated kinase, DesK, and a soluble transcriptionalregulator, DesR, which stringently controls transcription of the des gene. We propose that both, a decrease in membrane fluidity atconstant temperature and a temperature downshift induce des by the same mechanism, involving the ability of DesK to sense adecrease in membrane fluidity.