ISSN:
1432-072X
Keywords:
Methanotroph
;
Methane oxidation
;
Methane monooxygenase
;
Oligonucleotide probing
;
Subunit genes
;
Methylococcus capsulatus (Bath)
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
Notes:
Abstract Methane monooxygenase (MMO) is the enzyme responsible for the conversion of methane to methanol in methanotrophic bacteria. In addition, this enzyme complex oxidizes a wide range of aliphatic and aromatic compounds in a number of potentially useful biotransformations. In this study, we have used biochemical data obtained from purification and characterization of the soluble MMO from Methylococcus capsulatus (Bath), to identify structural genes encoding this enzyme by oligonucleotide probing. The genes encoding the β and γ subunits of MMO were found to be chromosomally located and were linked in this organism. We report here on the analysis of a recombinant plasmid containing 12 kilobases of Methylococcus DNA and provide the first evidence for the localization and linkage of genes encoding the methane monooxygenase enzyme complex. DNA sequence analysis suggests that the primary structures of the β and γ subunit of MMO are completely novel and the complete sequence of these genes is presented.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00456094
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