Numerous fatty acyl-CoA synthetase homologues are involved in fatty acid degradation in pseudomonas aeruginosa

Abstract

The goal of this research is to characterize the newly identified fatty acyl-CoA synthetase homologue, PA3860 (fadD3), which is thought to take part in Fad though its exact contribution to fatty acid metabolism in P. aeruginosa is unknown. Deciphering the role of fadD3 in fatty acid degradation will broaden our knowledge of the β-oxidation pathway in this bacterium. This was achieved by completing the following specific aims: 1. Purification of FadD3 and performance of biochemical analysis of its acyl-CoA synthetase function 2. Genetical characterization of fadD3 (PA3860) of P. aeruginosa through mutational analysis and gene fusion studies During the course of this research additional discoveries about the β-oxidation pathway of P. aeruginosa were made: 1) additional acyl-CoA synthetase homologues were found, i.e. fadD4, fadD5, and fadD6 2) and their role in Fad was determined along with fadD3.