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M K Trower

Publications and source records attributed to M K Trower.

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Purification and characterization of a 7Fe ferredoxin from Streptomyces griseus.

A ferredoxin has been purified from Streptomyces griseus grown in soybean flour-containing medium. The homogeneous protein has a molecular weight near 14,000 as determined by both PAGE and size exclusion chromatography. The iron and labile sulfide content is 6-7 atoms/mole protein. EPR spectroscopy of native S. griseus ferredoxin shows an isotropic signal at g = 2.01 which is typical of [3Fe-4S]1+ clusters and which quantitates to 0.9 spin/mole. Reduction of the ferredoxin by excess dithionite at pH 8.0 produces an EPR silent state with a small amount of a g = 1.95 type signal. Photoreduction in the presence of deazaflavin generates a signal typical of [4Fe-4S]1+ clusters at much higher yields (0.4-0.5 spin/mole) with major features at g-values of 2.06, 1.94, 1.90 and 1.88. This latter EPR signal is most similar to that seen for reduced 7Fe ferredoxins, which contain both a [3Fe-4S] and [4Fe-4S] cluster. In vitro reconstitution experiments demonstrate the ability of the S. griseus ferredoxin to couple electron transfer between spinach ferredoxin reductase and S. griseus cytochrome P-450soy for NADPH-dependent substrate oxidation. This represents a possible physiological function for the S. griseus ferredoxin, which if true, would be the first functional role demonstrated for a 7Fe ferredoxin.

Chemical Phenomena↗

Primary structure of a 7Fe ferredoxin from Streptomyces griseus.

The complete primary structure of a Streptomyces griseus (ATCC 13273) 7Fe ferredoxin, which can couple electron transfer between spinach ferredoxin reductase and S. griseus cytochrome P-450soy for NADPH-dependent substrate oxidation, has been determined by Edman degradation of the whole protein and peptides derived by Staphylococcus aureus V8 proteinase and trypsin digestion. The protein consists of 105 amino acids and has a calculated molecular weight, including seven irons and eight sulfurs, of 12,291. The ferredoxin sequence is highly homologous (73%) to that of the 7Fe ferredoxin from Mycobacterium smegmatis. The N-terminal half of the sequence, which is the Fe-S clusters binding domain, has more than 50% homology with other 7Fe ferredoxins. In particular, the seven cysteines known from the crystal structure of Azotobacter vinelandii ferredoxin I to be involved in binding the two Fe-S clusters are conserved.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Characterization of an FMN-containing cyclohexanone monooxygenase from a cyclohexane-grown Xanthobacter sp.

A soluble cyclohexanone monooxygenase was purified 16.1-fold to homogeneity from a Xanthobacter sp. grown upon cyclohexane as sole source of carbon and energy. The native enzyme is a 50-kDa single polypeptide chain associated with FMN rather than FAD as flavin prosthetic group in a 1:1 stoichiometric relationship. The monooxygenase catalyses the transformation of cyclohexanone to the lactone 1-oxa-2-oxocycloheptane in an oxygen ring insertion reaction. Only related cycloalkanone substrates are accepted for oxygenation, no activity is shown towards straight-chain alkanones. Enzyme activity is strongly inhibited by sulphydryl-reactive agents, but is relatively insensitive to metal chelators, electron transport inhibitors and the metal ions Fe3+ and Cu2+. Cyclohexanone monooxygenase has Km values for cyclohexanone and NADPH of less than 0.5 microM and 12.5 microM respectively. Kinetic investigations under steady-state conditions demonstrate that the flavoprotein prosthetic group, FMN, is involved in the monooxygenase catalytic mechanism. The systematic name for the enzyme is cyclohexanone, NADPH:oxygen oxidoreductase (6-hydroxylating, 1,2-lactonizing) (EC 1.14.13.22).

Chromatography↗

Purification and characterization of a soybean flour-induced cytochrome P-450 from Streptomyces griseus.

A soybean flour-induced, soluble cytochrome P-450 (P-450soy) was purified 130-fold to homogeneity from Streptomyces griseus. Native cytochrome P-450soy is a single polypeptide, with a molecular weight of 47,500, in association with one ferriprotoporphyrin IX prosthetic group. Oxidized P-450soy exhibited visible absorption maxima at 394, 514, and 646 nm, characteristic of a high-spin cytochrome P-450. The CO-reduced difference spectrum of P-450soy had a Soret maximum at 448 nm. When reconstituted with spinach ferredoxin and spinach ferredoxin:NADP+ oxidoreductase, purified cytochrome P-450soy catalyzed the NADPH-dependent oxidation of the xenobiotic substrates precocene II and 7-ethoxycoumarin. In vitro proteolysis of cytochrome P-450soy generated a stable and catalytically active cytochrome P-450, designated P-450soy delta.

Amino Acids↗

Xenobiotic oxidation by cytochrome P-450-enriched extracts of Streptomyces griseus.

Crude extracts of Streptomyces griseus grown on soybean flour-enriched medium contain high levels of cytochrome P-450. The cytochrome P-450-enriched fractions, obtained by ammonium sulfate fractionation (30-50% saturation), catalyze the NADPH-dependent oxidation of a variety of xenobiotics when complemented with both spinach ferredoxin:NADP+ oxidoreductase and spinach ferredoxin. Reactions observed are aromatic, benzylic and alicyclic hydroxylations, O-dealkylation, non-aromatic double bond epoxidation, N-oxidation and N-acetylation.

Ammonium Sulfate↗

Comparative study of the ability of three xanthobacter species to metabolize cycloalkanes.

The ability of three species of Xanthobacter to metabolize cyclohexane and its derivatives has been compared. Xanthobacter flavus was unable to utilize any of the cycloalkanes under investigation. X. autotrophicus was unable to utilize cyclohexane but was able to grow with a limited range of substituted cycloalkanes, including cyclohexanol and cyclohexanone. Comparison of a previously isolated cyclohexane growing Xanthobacter sp. with X. flavus and X. autotrophicus indicated it to be closely related to X. autotrophicus. Studies with cell-free extracts have indicated that the route of metabolism for cyclohexanol by X. autotrophicus is the same as that shown for the cyclohexane growing Xanthobacter sp., proceeding via cyclohexanol-->cyclohexanone--> epsilon-caprolactone-->--> adipic acid. A comparison of the cyclohexanol dehydrogenase found in X. autotrophicus with that found in the cyclohexane-growing Xanthobacter sp. indicated these enzymes to be distinctly different from one another on the basis of substrate specificity, molecular weight, and pH optima. The cyclohexanone monooxygenase enzymes found in the two bacteria were also found to be different when the pH optima and cofactor specificity of the two enzymes were compared. Preliminary genetic studies on the cyclohexane-growing Xanthobacter sp. have indicated that there are no plasmids present in this bacterium. The presence of RP4 in the Xanthobacter sp. can be detected following its conjugation with an RP4-carrying Escherichia coli strain.

Journal Article↗

Isolation and Characterization of a Cyclohexane-Metabolizing Xanthobacter sp.

An unusual Xanthobacter sp., capable of independent growth on cyclohexane as the sole source of carbon and energy, has been isolated from soil by using classical enrichment techniques. The mean generation time for growth on cyclohexane was 6 h. The microorganism showed a limited ability to utilize hydrocarbons, with only alicyclic hydrocarbons closely related to cyclohexane supporting growth. Ultrastructural studies indicated the presence of electron-transparent vesicles in the cyclohexane-grown Xanthobacter sp., but the presence of complex intracytoplasmic membranes could not be identified. A soluble inducible enzyme capable of oxidizing cyclohexane was identified in cell extracts. This enzyme had a pH optimum of 6.5, an absolute specificity for NADPH, and a stoichiometric requirement for molecular O(2) which was consistent with the formation of cyclohexanol. The enzyme showed no activity towards straight chain alkanes and only a limited activity towards unsaturated ring compounds. Enzymatic studies with cell extracts have indicated the main route of metabolism of cyclohexane by this Xanthobacter sp. to proceed via cyclohexane --> cyclohexanol --> cyclohexanone --> 1-oxa-2-oxocycloheptane (epsilon-caprolactone) --> 6-hydroxyhexanoate (6-hydroxycaproate) --> --> adipic acid. Alternative routes involving initial double hydroxylation of the cyclohexane ring may operate fortuituously but are unlikely to represent major pathways for the dissimilation of cyclohexane by this microorganism.

Journal Article↗