Bacterial ribulose monophosphate pathway and formaldehyde assimilation

Abstract:

Ribulose monophosphate pathway (RuMP), which was originally found in methylotrophic bacteria, is now recognized as a metabolic pathway widespread in most bacteria and involved in formaldehyde assimilation and detoxification. 3-Hexulose-6-phosphate synthase (HPS) and 6-phospho-3-hexuloisomerase (PHI) are the key enzymes of this pathway. This review describes the physiological significance of RuMP pathway derived from a variety of bacteria, the organizations and expressional regulations of HPS and PHI genes and the perspectives for applications of the two genes.