title: The fixA and fixB genes are necessary for anaerobic carnitine reduction in Escherichia coli.
abstract: In Escherichia coli, the use of carnitine as a terminal electron acceptor depends on a functional caiTABCDE operon. It had been suggested that the adjacent but divergent fixABCX operon is also required for carnitine metabolism, perhaps to provide electrons for carnitine reduction. We have constructed E. coli fixA and fixB mutants and find that they are unable to reduce carnitine to gamma-butyrobetaine under anaerobic conditions.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biological Chemistry and School of Molecular Biosciences, Washington State University, Pullman 99164-6340, USA.
authors.forename: Angelique
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Walt
authors.forename: Michael L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Kahn
mesh_terms: D000693:Anaerobiosis; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D001622:Betaine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism; D002331:Carnitine / Q000378:metabolism*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D005420:Flavoproteins; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; C098624:FixA protein, E coli; D005420:Flavoproteins; C068361:fixB protein, E coli; D001622:Betaine; C002889:gamma-butyrobetaine; D002331:Carnitine