title: Bacillus megaterium has both a functional BluB protein required for DMB synthesis and a related flavoprotein that forms a stable radical species.
abstract: Despite the extensive study of the biosynthesis of the complex molecule B12 (cobalamin), the mechanism by which the lower ligand 5,6-dimethylbenzimidazole (DMB) is formed has remained something of a mystery. However, recent work has identified and characterized a DMB-synthase (BluB) responsible for the oxygen-dependent, single enzyme conversion of FMN to DMB. In this work, we have identified BluB homologs from the aerobic purple, nonsulfur, photosynthetic bacterium Rhodobacter capsulatus and the aerobic soil bacterium Bacillus megaterium and have demonstrated DMB synthesis by the use of a novel complementation assay in which a B12 deficient strain, substituted with the precursor cobinamide is recovered either by the addition of DMB or by the recombinant expression of a bluB gene. The DMB-synthetic activity of the purified recombinant BluB enzymes was further confirmed in vitro by providing the enzyme with FMNH2 and oxygen and observing the formation of DMB by HPLC. The formation of a 4a-peroxyflavin intermediate, the first step in the oxygen dependent mechanism of DMB biosynthesis, is reported here and is the first intermediate in the enzyme catalysed reaction to be demonstrated experimentally to date. The identification and characterization of an FMN-binding protein found on the cobI operon of B. megaterium, CbiY, is also detailed, revealing an FMN-containing enzyme which is able to stabilize a blue flavin semiquinone upon reduction with a 1-electron donor.
authors: School of Biosciences, University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent, United Kingdom.
authors: Hannah F
authors: HF
authors: Collins
authors: Rebekka
authors: R
authors: Biedendieck
authors: Helen K
authors: HK
authors: Leech
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Gray
authors: Jorge C
authors: JC
authors: Escalante-Semerena
authors: Kirsty J
authors: KJ
authors: McLean
authors: Andrew W
authors: AW
authors: Munro
authors: Stephen E J
authors: SE
authors: Rigby
authors: Martin J
authors: MJ
authors: Warren
authors: Andrew D
authors: AD
authors: Lawrence
mesh_terms: D001410:Bacillus megaterium / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D001562:Benzimidazoles / Q000378:metabolism*; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D005486:Flavin Mononucleotide / Q000378:metabolism*; D005420:Flavoproteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016354:Rhodobacter capsulatus / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D019779:Salmonella enterica / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001562:Benzimidazoles; D005420:Flavoproteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C015158:5,6-dimethylbenzimidazole; D005486:Flavin Mononucleotide