title: Biochemical and molecular characterisation of the 2,3-dichloro-1-propanol dehalogenase and stereospecific haloalkanoic dehalogenases from a versatile Agrobacterium sp.
abstract: We previously reported the presence of both haloalcohol and haloalkanoate dehalogenase activity in the Agrobacterium sp. strain NHG3. The versatile nature of the organism led us to further characterise the genetic basis of these dehalogenation activities. Cloning and sequencing of the haloalcohol dehalogenase and subsequent analysis suggested that it was part of a highly conserved catabolic gene cluster. Characterisation of the haloalkanoate dehalogenase enzyme revealed the presence of two stereospecific enzymes with a narrow substrate range which acted on D-2-chloropropionic and L-2-chloropropionoic acid, respectively. Cloning and sequencing indicated that the two genes were separated by 87 bp of non-coding DNA and were preceded by a putative transporter gene 66 bp upstream of the D-specific enzyme.
authors.affiliation: Cardiff School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3TL, UK. higgins.tp1@cf.ac.uk
authors.forename: Timothy P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Higgins
authors.forename: Stephen J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Hope
authors.forename: Agus J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Effendi
authors.forename: Shula
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dawson
authors.forename: Brian N
authors.initials: BN
authors.lastname: Dancer
mesh_terms: D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; D006867:Hydrolases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D007700:Kinetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D008970:Molecular Weight; D011422:Propionates / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D012231:Rhizobium / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D013237:Stereoisomerism; D013379:Substrate Specificity
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; D011422:Propionates; C021974:2-chloropropionic acid; D006867:Hydrolases; C113022:haloalcohol dehalogenase; C034507:2-haloacid dehalogenase