Functional activity of the modA sub(2 )gene in Methylobacterium dichloromethanicum DM4

• Published in: Microbiology (New York) Vol. 83; no. 3; pp. 205 - 210
• Main Authors: Firsova, YE, Trotsenko, YA
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.05.2014
• Subjects: Methylobacterium dichloromethanicum
• ISSN: 0026-2617; 1608-3237
• DOI: 10.1134/S0026261714030060

The putative METDI2644 (modA sub(2 )) gene of Methylobacterium dichloromethanicum DM4, present in the 126-kb chromosomal fragment associated with dichloromethane (DCM) degradation, was investigated. While this gene is presumed to encode the periplasmic substrate-binding subunit of a molybdate ABC transporter, its conceptual translation also exhibits similarity to proteins containing the ostA conservative domain and responsible for resistance of gram-negative bacteria to organic solvents. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) revealed RNA transcripts of this gene in the cells grown on either DCM or cells grown on methanol. The mobilizable suicide vector pK18mob was used to obtain a knockout mutant with the METDI2644 gene inactivated by insertion of the gentamycin cassette. The mutant pregrown on methanol exhibited lower growth rate on DCM than the wild-type strain DM4. The difference was not alleviated by the addition of sodium molybdate. Our results demonstrate that the METDI2644 gene product plays a role in cell adaptation to DCM degradation.