title: Cloning and overexpression of the Rhodobacter capsulatus hemH gene.
abstract: In photosynthetically grown Rhodobacter capsulatus, heme is a qualitatively minor end product of the common tetrapyrrole pathway, but it may play a significant regulatory role. Heme is synthesized from protoporphyrin by the product of the hemH gene, ferrochelatase. We have cloned the R. capsulatus hemH gene by complementation of an Escherichia coli hemH mutant. When a plasmid carrying the hemH gene is returned to R. capsulatus, ferrochelatase activity increases, aminolevulinate synthase activity decreases, and bacteriochlorophyll levels are dramatically lowered. This is the first in vivo evidence to suggest that heme feedback inhibits aminolevulinate synthase in R. capsulatus, thereby reducing porphyrin synthesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge 70803, USA.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kanazireva
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Biel
mesh_terms: D001429:Bacteriochlorophylls / Q000096:biosynthesis; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics; D005246:Feedback; D005294:Ferrochelatase / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005798:Genes, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics*; D005816:Genetic Complementation Test; D006418:Heme / Q000378:metabolism; D000623:Porphobilinogen Synthase / Q000378:metabolism; D011166:Porphyrins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000378:metabolism; D015183:Restriction Mapping; D016354:Rhodobacter capsulatus / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics; D045725:Tetrapyrroles
chemical_list: D001429:Bacteriochlorophylls; D011166:Porphyrins; D011758:Pyrroles; D045725:Tetrapyrroles; D006418:Heme; D000623:Porphobilinogen Synthase; D005294:Ferrochelatase