Characterization of a heme oxygenase of Clostridium tetani and its possible role in oxygen tolerance.
In order to colonize mammalian wounds, the anaerobic bacterium Clostridium tetani must presumably cope with temporary oxic conditions. Therefore, the recently decoded genome sequence was searched for genes which could confer oxygen tolerance. A few identified systems such as superoxide dismutases and peroxidases are probably responsible for this protection against toxic oxygen species. Another system was detected, a heme oxygenase which could have a role in establishing or maintaining an anoxic microenvironment in the process of wound colonization. The hemT gene encoding the heme oxygenase is expressed in C. tetani, as shown by reverse transcription-PCR. When overexpressed in Escherichia coli, the enzyme converts heme to biliverdin under strict oxic conditions.
Brüggemann
Holger
H
Göttingen Genomics Laboratory, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, Georg-August-University Göttingen, Grisebachstrasse 8, 37077 Göttingen, Germany.
Bauer
Rosalie
R
Raffestin
Stéphanie
S
Gottschalk
Gerhard
G
D001664:Biliverdine / Q000378:metabolism; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D003017:Clostridium tetani / Q000201:enzymology*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D006418:Heme / Q000378:metabolism*; D006419:Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing) / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000633:toxicity*; D010544:Peroxidases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012329:RNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D012329:RNA, Bacterial; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D006418:Heme; D010544:Peroxidases; D006419:Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing); D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D001664:Biliverdine; D010100:Oxygen