Characterization of PmfR, the transcriptional activator of the pAO1-borne purU-mabO-folD operon of Arthrobacter nicotinovorans.

ABSTRACT: Nicotine catabolism by Arthrobacter nicotinovorans is linked to the presence of the megaplasmid pAO1. Genes involved in this catabolic pathway are arranged on the plasmid into gene modules according to function. During nicotine degradation gamma-N-methylaminobutyrate is formed from the pyrrolidine ring of nicotine. Analysis of the pAO1 open reading frames (ORF) resulted in identification of the gene encoding a demethylating gamma-N-methylaminobutyrate oxidase (mabO). This gene was shown to form an operon with purU- and folD-like genes. Only in bacteria grown in the presence of nicotine could transcripts of the purU-mabO-folD operon be detected, demonstrating that this operon constitutes part of the pAO1 nicotine regulon. Its transcriptional start site was determined by primer extension ana

SUBMITTER: Chiribau CB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1082840 | biostudies-literature | 2005 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature