Publications

• Deciphering the genetic determinants for aerobic nicotinic acid degradation: the nic cluster from Pseudomonas putida KT2440.

  Jimenez J.I., Canales A., Jimenez-Barbero J., Ginalski K., Rychlewski L., Garcia J.L., Diaz E.

  The aerobic catabolism of nicotinic acid (NA) is considered a model system for degradation of N-heterocyclic aromatic compounds, some of which are major environmental pollutants; however, the complete set of genes as well as the structural-functional relationships of most of the enzymes involved i ... >> More

  The aerobic catabolism of nicotinic acid (NA) is considered a model system for degradation of N-heterocyclic aromatic compounds, some of which are major environmental pollutants; however, the complete set of genes as well as the structural-functional relationships of most of the enzymes involved in this process are still unknown. We have characterized a gene cluster (nic genes) from Pseudomonas putida KT2440 responsible for the aerobic NA degradation in this bacterium and when expressed in heterologous hosts. The biochemistry of the NA degradation through the formation of 2,5-dihydroxypyridine and maleamic acid has been revisited, and some gene products become the prototype of new types of enzymes with unprecedented molecular architectures. Thus, the initial hydroxylation of NA is catalyzed by a two-component hydroxylase (NicAB) that constitutes the first member of the xanthine dehydrogenase family whose electron transport chain to molecular oxygen includes a cytochrome c domain. The Fe(2+)-dependent dioxygenase (NicX) converts 2,5-dihydroxypyridine into N-formylmaleamic acid, and it becomes the founding member of a new family of extradiol ring-cleavage dioxygenases. Further conversion of N-formylmaleamic acid to formic and maleamic acid is catalyzed by the NicD protein, the only deformylase described so far whose catalytic triad is similar to that of some members of the alpha/beta-hydrolase fold superfamily. This work allows exploration of the existence of orthologous gene clusters in saprophytic bacteria and some pathogens, where they might stimulate studies on their role in virulence, and it provides a framework to develop new biotechnological processes for detoxification/biotransformation of N-heterocyclic aromatic compounds. << Less

  Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 105:11329-11334(2008) [PubMed] [EuropePMC]

  This publication is cited by 4 other entries.

• Cloning, heterologous expression, and functional characterization of the nicotinate dehydrogenase gene from Pseudomonas putida KT2440.

  Yang Y., Yuan S., Chen T., Ma P., Shang G., Dai Y.

  6-hydroxynicotinate can be used for the production of drugs, pesticides and intermediate chemicals. Some Pseudomonas species were reported to be able to convert nicotinic acid to 6-hydroxynicotinate by nicotinate dehydrogenase. So far, previous reports on NaDH in Pseudomonas genus were confused an ... >> More

  6-hydroxynicotinate can be used for the production of drugs, pesticides and intermediate chemicals. Some Pseudomonas species were reported to be able to convert nicotinic acid to 6-hydroxynicotinate by nicotinate dehydrogenase. So far, previous reports on NaDH in Pseudomonas genus were confused and contradictory each other. Recently, Ashraf et al. reported an NaDH gene cloned from Eubacterium barkeri and suggested some deducted NaDH genes from other nine bacteria. But they did not demonstrate the activity of recombinant NaDH and did not mention NaDH gene in Pseudomonas. In this study we cloned the gene of NaDH, ndhSL, from Pseudomonas putida KT2440. NdhSL in P. putida KT2440 is composed of two subunits. The small subunit contains [2Fe2S] iron sulfur domain, while the large subunit contains domains of molybdenum cofactor and cytochrome c. Expression of recombinant ndhSL in P. entomophila L48, which lacks the ability to produce 6-hydroxynicotinate, enabled the resting cell and cell extract of engineering P. entomophila L48 to hydroxylate nicotinate. Gene knockout and recovery studies further confirmed the ndhSL function. << Less

  Biodegradation 20:541-549(2009) [PubMed] [EuropePMC]