title: Coexistence of two different O demethylation systems in lignin metabolism by Sphingomonas paucimobilis SYK-6: cloning and sequencing of the lignin biphenyl-specific O-demethylase (LigX) gene.
abstract: Sphingomonas paucimobilis SYK-6 can grow on several dimeric model compounds of lignin as a carbon and energy source. It has O demethylation systems on three kinds of substrates: 5, 5'-dehydrodivanillic acid (DDVA), syringate, and vanillate. We previously reported the cloning of a gene involved in the tetrahydrofolate-dependent O demethylation of syringate and vanillate. In the study reported here, we cloned the gene responsible for DDVA O demethylation. Using nitrosoguanidine mutagenesis, a mutant strain, NT-1, which could not degrade DDVA but could degrade syringate and vanillate, was isolated and was used to clone the gene responsible for the O demethylation of DDVA by complementation. Sequencing analysis showed an open reading frame (designated ligX) of 1,266 bp in this fragment. The deduced amino acid sequence of LigX had similarity to class I type oxygenases. LigX was involved in O demethylation activity on DDVA but not on vanillate and syringate. DDVA O demethylation activity in S. paucimobilis SYK-6 cell extracts was inhibited by addition of the LigX polyclonal antiserum. Thus, LigX is an essential enzyme for DDVA O demethylation in SYK-6. S. paucimobilis SYK-6 has two O demethylation systems: one is an oxygenative demethylase system, and the other is a tetrahydrofolate-dependent methyltransferase system.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Bio-Applications and Systems Engineering, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Koganei, Tokyo 184-8588, Japan. tomosono@cc.tuat.ac.jp
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sonoki
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Obi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kubota
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Higashi
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Masai
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Katayama
mesh_terms: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D019281:Dimerization; D004926:Escherichia coli; D007700:Kinetics; D008031:Lignin / Q000378:metabolism*; D008956:Models, Chemical; D010090:Oxidoreductases, O-Demethylating / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D010802:Phylogeny; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D020578:Sphingomonas / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D008031:Lignin; D010090:Oxidoreductases, O-Demethylating; C409186:ligX protein, Sphingomonas paucimobilis