Isoprene biosynthesis in Bacillus subtilis via the methylerythritol phosphate pathway

Isoprene (2-methyl-1,3-butadiene), an abundant natural product of unknown f unction in plants, has recently been found to be one of the major volatiles formed by Bacillus subtilis. To understand the metabolic origins of isopre ne in B. subtilis, we used C-13- and H-2-labeling methods with GC-MS analys is of released isoprene. The results indicate that, in this bacterium, isop rene is-not formed by the mevalonate pathway or from catabolism of leucine, but, as in plant systems, it-is a product of the methylerythritol phosphat e pathway of isoprenoid synthesis. This work supports the idea that B. subt ilis could be used as a microbial model for studying the biochemistry of is oprene formation.