InterPro domain: IPR001441

In prokaryotes, undecaprenyl diphosphate synthase (UPP synthase, di-trans-poly-cis-decaprenylcistransferase or ditrans,polycis-undecaprenyl-diphosphate synthase ( 2.5.1.31 )), catalyzes the formation of the carrier lipid undecaprenyl pyrophosphate (UPP) in bacterial cell wall peptidoglycan biosynthesis from isopentenyl pyrophosphate (IPP) [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 ]. Cis (Z)-Isoprenyl diphosphate synthase (cis-IPPS) catalyzes the successive 1'-4 condensation of the IPP molecule to trans,trans-farnesyl diphosphate (FPP) or to cis,trans-FPP to form long-chain polyprenyl diphosphates. A few can also catalyze the condensation of IPP to trans-geranyl diphosphate to form the short-chain cis,trans- FPP. cis-IPPS form homodimers and are mechanistically and structurally distinct from trans-IPPS, which lack the DDXXD motifs, yet require Mg ²⁺ for activity. Homologues are also found in archaebacteria and include a number of uncharacterised proteins including some from yeasts.

This entry also matches related enzymes that transfer alkyl groups, such as dehydrodolichyl diphosphate synthase from eukaryotes, which catalyzes the formation of the polyisoprenoid glycosyl carrier lipid dolichyl monophosphate.

1. Use of genomics to identify bacterial undecaprenyl pyrophosphate synthetase: cloning, expression, and characterization of the essential uppS gene. J. Bacteriol. 181, 483-92
2. Molecular cloning, expression, and purification of undecaprenyl diphosphate synthase. No sequence similarity between E- and Z-prenyl diphosphate synthases. J. Biol. Chem. 273, 19476-81
3. Structure and function of cis-prenyl chain elongating enzymes. Chem Rec 6, 194-205
4. The tomato cis-prenyltransferase gene family. Plant J. 73, 640-52
5. Molecular analysis of cis-prenyl chain elongating enzymes. Nat Prod Rep 20, 111-8
6. Undecaprenyl diphosphate synthase, a cis-prenyltransferase synthesizing lipid carrier for bacterial cell wall biosynthesis. Mol. Membr. Biol. 29, 267-73
7. Effect of site-directed mutagenesis of the conserved aspartate and glutamate on E. coli undecaprenyl pyrophosphate synthase catalysis. Biochemistry 39, 13856-61
8. Identification of Significant residues for homoallylic substrate binding of Micrococcus luteus B-P 26 undecaprenyl diphosphate synthase. J. Biol. Chem. 276, 28459-64
9. Characterization of dehydrodolichyl diphosphate synthase of Arabidopsis thaliana, a key enzyme in dolichol biosynthesis. FEBS Lett. 477, 170-4
10. Molecular analysis of prenyl chain elongating enzymes. Biosci. Biotechnol. Biochem. 63, 1671-6
11. [Myocardial infarct mortality and cigarette smoking in the records of Myocardial Infarct Registries in the City of Warsaw and in Lublin] Pol Tyg Lek 30, 1737-9
12. Yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae has two cis-prenyltransferases with different properties and localizations. Implication for their distinct physiological roles in dolichol synthesis. Genes Cells 6, 495-506
13. Structure, mechanism and function of prenyltransferases. Eur. J. Biochem. 269, 3339-54
14. Identification of a short (C15) chain Z-isoprenyl diphosphate synthase and a homologous long (C50) chain isoprenyl diphosphate synthase in Mycobacterium tuberculosis. J. Biol. Chem. 275, 22876-81