Reaction: presqualene diphosphate + H2O = hydroxysqualene + diphosphate
For diagram of reaction click here.
Glossary: hydroxysqualene = (6E,10E,12R,14E,18E)-2,6,10,15,19,23-hexamethyltetracosa-2,6,10,14,18,22-hexaen-12-ol
Other name(s): hpnC (gene name)
Systematic name: presqualene diphosphate diphosphate-lyase (adding water; hydroxyasqualene-forming)
Comments: This enzyme, isolated from the bacteria Rhodopseudomonas palustris and Zymomonas mobilis, participates, along with EC 2.5.1.103, presqualene diphosphate synthase, and EC 1.17.8.1, hydroxysqualene dehydroxylase, in the conversion of all-trans-farnesyl diphosphate to squalene. Eukaryotes achieve the same goal in a single step, catalysed by EC 2.5.1.21, squalene synthase.
Links to other databases: BRENDA, EXPASY, KEGG, MetaCyc, CAS registry number:
References:
1. Pan, J.J., Solbiati, J.O., Ramamoorthy, G., Hillerich, B.S., Seidel, R.D., Cronan, J.E., Almo, S.C. and Poulter, C.D. Biosynthesis of squalene from farnesyl diphosphate in bacteria: three steps catalyzed by three enzymes. ACS Cent Sci 1 (2015) 77-82. [PMID: 26258173]