Abstract
Brown algae belong to a phylogenetic lineage distantly related to green plants and animals, and are found predominantly, but not exclusively, in the intertidal zone, a harsh and frequently changing environment. Because of their unique evolutionary history and of their habitat, brown algae feature several peculiarities in their metabolism. One of these is the mannitol cycle, which plays a central role in their physiology, as mannitol acts as carbon storage, osmoprotectant, and antioxidant. This polyol is derived directly from the photoassimilate fructose-6-phosphate via the action of a mannitol-1-phosphate dehydrogenase (M1PDH, EC 1.1.1.17) and a mannitol-1-phosphatase (M1Pase, EC 3.1.3.22). This protocol describes the biochemical characterization of a recombinant M1Pase of Ectocarpus sp. The M1Pase enzyme catalyzes the conversion of mannitol-1-phosphate to mannitol (Figure 1).Figure 1. Reaction catalyzed by a mannitol-1-phosphatase
Keywords: Mannitol cycle, Mannitol-1-phosphatase, Ectocarpus sp., Brown algae
Materials and Reagents
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Acknowledgments
This work was supported by the French National Research Agency via the investment expenditure program IDEALG (ANR-10-BTBR-02). The authors also acknowledge funding from the Émergence-UPMC-2011 research program.
References
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