title: Genetics of the serine cycle in Methylobacterium extorquens AM1: identification of sgaA and mtdA and sequences of sgaA, hprA, and mtdA.
abstract: In a previous paper, we reported identification of the 5' part of hprA of Methylobacterium extorquens AM1, which encodes the serine cycle enzyme hydroxypyruvate reductase (L. V. Chistoserdova and M. E. Lidstrom, J. Bacteriol. 174:71-77, 1992). Here we present the complete sequence of hprA and partial sequence of genes adjacent to hprA. Upstream of hprA, the 3' part of an open reading frame was discovered, separated from hprA by 263 bp. This open reading frame was identified as the gene encoding another serine cycle enzyme, serine glyoxylate aminotransferase (sgaA). Cells containing an insertion mutation into sgaA were unable to grow on C1 compounds, demonstrating that the gene is required for C1 metabolism. Sequencing downstream of hprA has revealed the presence of another open reading frame (mtdA), which is probably cotranscribed with hprA. This open reading frame was identified as the gene required for the synthesis of 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase. Our data suggest that this enzyme plays an integral role in methylotrophic metabolism in M. extorquens AM1, either in formaldehyde oxidation or as part of the serine cycle.
authors.affiliation: W. M. Keck Laboratories 138-78, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena 91125.
authors.forename: L V
authors.initials: LV
authors.lastname: Chistoserdova
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Lidstrom
mesh_terms: D000429:Alcohol Oxidoreductases / Q000235:genetics*; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001483:Base Sequence; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D015870:Gene Expression; D006089:Gram-Negative Anaerobic Bacteria / Q000235:genetics*; D050537:Hydroxypyruvate Reductase; D008754:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Dehydrogenase (NADP) / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016254:Mutagenesis, Insertional; D016366:Open Reading Frames / Q000235:genetics; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D012694:Serine / Q000378:metabolism*; D000637:Transaminases / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012694:Serine; D000429:Alcohol Oxidoreductases; D050537:Hydroxypyruvate Reductase; D008754:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Dehydrogenase (NADP); D000637:Transaminases; C023067:glyoxylate aminotransferase