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Regulation of the fdhF gene encoding the selenopolypeptide for benzyl viologen-linked formate dehydrogenase in Escherichia coli

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Summary

Two classes of mutants defective in benzyl viologen-linked formate dehydrogenase (FDH-BV) activity were isolated from Escherichia coli K12. Class I consisted of four mutants which were specifically devoid of FDH-BV activity. Their mutation mapped between the ssb and melA genes at 92 min on the genome, at a site recently designated fdhF by Pecher et al. (1985). The direction of transcription of gene fdhF was found to be counterclockwise on the E. coli chromosome in one Mudl(Apr lac) fusion mutant. Expression of the lac operon in this mutant was induced by formate and repressed by nitrate, nitrite or trimethylamine N-oxide. It was found to be dependent on the positive control exerted by the fdhA, B and C genes, possibly involved in selenium incorporation, and by an hydB gene affecting the formate hydrogenlyase pathway. Class II, represented by one Mudl(Apr lac) mutant, exhibited no FDH-BV activity and a reduced level of hydrogenase activity. The relevant fdv mutation was shown to be located at 58 min and to affect the expression of fdhF.

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Abbreviations

FDH-BV:

benzyl viologen-linked formate dehydrogenase

FDH-PMS:

phenazine methosulphate-linked formate dehydrogenase

Nalr :

nalidixic acid resistance

TMAO:

trimethylamine N-oxide

DMSO:

dimethyl sulphoxide

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire de Microbiologie, Laboratoire de Biologie et Technologie des Membranes du CNRS, INSA-Bâtiment 406, 20 avenue Albert Einstein, F-69621, Villeurbanne Cedex, France

    Long Fei Wu & Marie-Andrée Mandrand-Berthelot

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  1. Long Fei Wu
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  2. Marie-Andrée Mandrand-Berthelot
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Communicated by J.W. Lengeler

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Wu, L.F., Mandrand-Berthelot, MA. Regulation of the fdhF gene encoding the selenopolypeptide for benzyl viologen-linked formate dehydrogenase in Escherichia coli . Mol Gen Genet 209, 129–134 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00329847

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00329847

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