Isoprenoids are essential for fruiting body formation in Myxococcus xanthus

Abstract

It was recently shown that Myxococcus xanthus harbors an alternative and reversible biosynthetic pathway to isovaleryl coenzyme A (CoA) branching from 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA. Analyses of various mutants in these pathways for fatty acid profiles and fruiting body formation revealed for the first time the importance of isoprenoids for myxobacterial development. Copyright © 2009, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.