Corynebacterium sp. U-96 contains a cluster of genes of enzymes for the catabolism of sarcosine to pyruvate.
The sarcosine oxidase gene and nearby genes from Corynebacterium sp. U-96 were determined. The genes for serine hydroxymethyltransferase, the beta, delta, alpha, and gamma subunits of sarcosine oxidase, serine dehydratase, and 10-formyltetrahydrofolate hydrolase are arranged in this order. This suggests that the bacteria contain a cluster of genes for the catabolism of sarcosine to pyruvate. The possibility that the gene cluster is a merit for the cellular energy demands of the bacteria is discussed. Functional expression of sarcosine oxidase in Escherichia coli was accomplished, but the beta subunit and the betadelta complex were expressed at a low level as a soluble protein.
Suzuki
Haruo
H
Division of Biosciences, Graduate School of Fundamental Life Science, Kitasato University, Kanagawa. suzuki@sci.kitasato-u.ac.jp
Tamamura
Ryou
R
Yajima
Satoshi
S
Kanno
Miho
M
Suguro
Masaya
M
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D002876:Chromosomes, Bacterial; D003352:Corynebacterium / Q000201:enzymology*; D015870:Gene Expression; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D005810:Multigene Family; D019289:Pyruvic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D012521:Sarcosine / Q000378:metabolism*
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D019289:Pyruvic Acid; D012521:Sarcosine