Transferases;
Transferring alkyl or aryl groups, other than methyl groups;
Transferring alkyl or aryl groups, other than methyl groups (only sub-subclass identified to date)
This cytosolic enzyme catalyses the first pathway-specific step in the biosynthesis of the core membrane diether lipids in archaebacteria [2]. Requires Mg2+ for maximal activity [2]. It catalyses the alkylation of the primary hydroxy group in sn-glycerol 1-phosphate by geranylgeranyl diphosphate (GGPP) in a prenyltransfer reaction where a hydroxy group is the nucleophile in the acceptor substrate [2]. The other enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of polar lipids in Archaea are EC 1.1.1.261 (sn-glycerol-1-phosphate dehydrogenase), EC 2.5.1.42 (geranylgeranylglycerol-phosphate geranylgeranyltransferase) and EC 2.7.7.67 (CDP-archaeol synthase), which lead to the formation of CDP-unsaturated archaeol. The final step in the pathway involves the addition of L-serine, with concomitant removal of CMP, leading to the production of unsaturated archaetidylserine [5].
(S)-geranylgeranylglyceryl phosphate synthase. Purification and characterization of the first pathway-specific enzyme in archaebacterial membrane lipid biosynthesis.
