SUBSTRATE-SPECIFICITY OF THERMOSTABLE FARNESYL DIPHOSPHATE SYNTHASE WITH ALKYL GROUP HOMOLOGS OF ISOPENTENYL DIPHOSPHATE

3-Alkyl group homologs of isopentenyl diphosphate were examined for th e reactivity as substrates of the thermostable farnesyl diphosphate (F PP) synthase of Bacillus stearothermophilus. Even 3-n-propyl- and 3-n- butyl-but-3-enyl diphosphates, which are hardly acceptable by animal F PP synthases, are accepted by this bacterial enzyme as substrates to r eact with dimethylallyl- and geranyl diphosphates, yielding 7-methyl-3 -n-propylocta-2,6-dienyl- and 7,11-dimethyl-3-n-propyldodeca-2,6,10-tr ienyl diphosphate, respectively. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All ri ghts reserved.