The Unique Nucleotide Specificity of the Sucrose Synthase from Thermosynechococcus elongatus

FIGUEROA, C.M.; ASENCIÓN DIEZ, M. D.; KUHN, M. L.; MCEWEN, S.; SALERNO, G.L.; IGLESIAS, A.A.; BALLICORA, M.A.

FEBS LETTERS

ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2012

0014-5793

Sucrose synthase catalyzes the reversible conversion of sucrose and UDP into fructose and UDP-glucose. In filamentous cyanobacteria, the sucrose cleavage direction plays a key physiological function in carbon metabolism, nitrogen fixation, and stress tolerance. In unicellular strains, the function of sucrose synthase has not been elucidated. Wereporta detailed biochemical characterization of sucrose synthase from Thermosynechococcus elongatus after the  gene was artificially synthesized for optimal expression in Escherichia coli. The homogeneous recombinant sucrose synthase was highly specific for ADP as substrate, constituting the first one with this unique characteristic, and strongly suggesting an interaction between sucrose and glycogen metabolism.