4,4′-Diapophytoene Desaturase: Catalytic Properties of an Enzyme from the C(30) Carotenoid Pathway of Staphylococcus aureus

Staphylococcus aureus synthesizes C(30) carotenoids. Their formation involves the introduction of three double bonds, which is catalyzed by a single enzyme. This enzyme, 4,4′-diapophytoene desaturase from S. aureus, was overexpressed in Escherichia coli and purified in one step by affinity chromatography, and then the protein was characterized with respect to substrate specificity, cofactor requirement, and oligomerization.