Studies on the mechanisms for biosynthesis of useful hydrocarbons by a green microalga based on data from EST analyses.

一种微藻布朗氏芽孢球菌产生大量的三萜碳氢化合物、芽孢球菌和甲基角鲨烯，这些都是该物种特有的。这些碳氢化合物被认为是有吸引力的石油替代品。在本研究中，分析了藻类中表达的基因，并鉴定了一些与生物合成和碳氢化合物代谢有关的新酶的编码基因。藻类产生碳氢化合物的机制被发现是非常独特的。

A microalga Botryococcus braunii produces large amounts of triterpene hydrocarbons, botryococcenes and methylsqualenes that are specific to the species. Those hydrocarbons are thought to be attractive as an alternative of petroleum. In this study, genes expressed in the alga were analyzed and some genes coding for new enzymes concerned with biosyntheses and metabolism of the hydrocarbons were identified. The mechanism for hydrocarbon production by the alga was found to be quite unique.