Oxidation of C1-compounds in Pseudomonas C

Mixed substrate-metabolism in an obligate methanol utilizer: chemostat studies

In Pseudomonas C, an obligate RMP-methylotroph, externally added formic acid and multi-carbon intermediates are co-metabolized in the obligate presence of methanol. Cell yield and methanol-carbon conversion to cell mass are optimal in a chemostat culture growing on a mixture of energy sources and methanol as the sole limiting carbon source. Growth on methanol as the sole, obligate energy source and an additional carbon source (e.g. pyruvate) is less efficient. Under these energy limited conditions, the cyclic oxidation pathway is predominantly operated.

Purification and properties of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (NADP+/NAD+) and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (NADP+/NAD+) from methanol-grown Pseudomonas C

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (D-glucose-6-phosphate:NADPH+ 1-oxidoreductase, EC 1.1.1.49) and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6-phospho-D-gluconate:NADP+ 2-oxidoreductase, EC 1.1.1943) have been purified from methanol-grown Pseudomonas C. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase exhibits activity with either NADP+ or NAD+ as coenzymes, V NADP+ = 0.96 V NAD+.Km values of 22, 290, and 250 microns are obtained for NADP+, NAD+ and glucose 6-phosphate (NADP+ as the coenzyme), respectively. ATP inhibits Glc-6P dehydrogenase activity with NAD+ as coenzyme and to a less extent the activity with DANP+. In the presence of MgCl2, ATP inhibition of Blc-6P dehydrogeanse activity is abolished. 6-Phosphogluconate dehydrogenase has a dual specificity for both NADP+ or NAD+ as coenzymes, V NADP+ = 1.66 V NAD+.Km values of 20, 500 and 100 microns are obtained for NADP+, NAD+ and 6-phosphogluconate (NADP+ as the coenzyme), respectively. With NAD+ as the coenzyme ATP inhibits 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogeanse activity, while with NADP+ as the coenzyme, activity was less affected. The possible role of these enzymes in the metabolism of one-carbon (C1)-compounds in Pseudomonas C is discussed and compared with other methylotrophic microorganisms.

Regulation of NAD+- and NADP+-linked isocitrate dehydrogenase in the obligate methylotrophic bacterium Pseudomonas W6

Cell-free extracts of the obligate methanol-utilizing bacterium Pseudomonas W6 catalyze the oxydation of isocitrate to alpha-ketoglutarate in the presence of NAD+ and NADP+. After electro-focusing of the crude extract of Pseudomonas W6 actually two distinct bands each of NAD+-linked isocitrate dehydrogenase (NAD+-IDH) and of NADP+-linked isocitrate dehydrogenase (NADP+-IDH) could be observed. The NAD+-IDH was completely separated from the NADP+-IDH by employing DEAE ion exchange chromatography and further purified by affinity chromatography using Cibacron blue F 3G-A. The NAD+-IDH was inhibited by a high energy charge, whereas the NADP+-IDH was found to be independent of energy charge. Consequently the NAD+-IDH showed the control behaviour of an enzyme of an energy-generating sequence which, however, equally fulfils a catabolic and an anabolic function. With respect to the inhibition by reduced pyridine nucleotides and alpha-ketoglutarate differences between NAD+-IDH and NADP+-IDH were also found. Only the NADP+-linked enzyme exhibited a feedback inhibition by its reaction products alpha-ketoglutarate and NADPH. This control behaviour gives evidence for the biosynthetic function of the NADP+-IDH. These results confer an amphibolic character to the sequence from citrate to alpha-ketoglutarate in the incomplete citric-acid cycle of Pseudomonas W6.

Purification and properties of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase from a methanol-utilizing yeast, Candida boidinii

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (D-glucose-6-phosphate: NADP oxidoreductase, EC 1.1.1.49) and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6-phospho-D-gluconate: NADP oxidoreductase, EC 1.1.1.44) were purified approx. 1700 fold and 330 fold, respectively, from Candida boidinii grown on methanol. The final enzyme preparations were homogeneous as judged by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The molecular weights of the enzymes were estimated to be 118 000 and 110 000, respectively. Both enzymes are composed of two probably identical subunits and the molecular weights of the polypeptide chains were calculated to be 61 000 and 58 000, respectively. From a consideration of enzyme activities and types of inhibition by different metabolites the role of these two enzymes in glucose- and methanol-metabolism is discussed.

Formaldehyde incorporation by a new methylotroph (L3)

A number of bacterial strains have been isolated and investigated in our search for a promising organism in the production of single-cell protein from methanol. Strain L3 among these isolates was identified as an obligate methylotroph which grew only on methanol and formaldehyde as the sole sources of carbon and energy. The organism also grew well in batch and chemostat mixed-substrate cultures containing methanol, formaldehyde, and formate. Although formate was not utilized as a sole carbon and energy source, it was readily taken up and oxidized by either formaldehyde- or methanol-grown cells. The organism incorporated carbon by means of the ribulose monophosphate pathway when growing on either methanol, formaldehyde, or various mixtures of C1 compounds. Its C1-oxidation enzymes included phenazine methosulfate-linked methanol and formaldehyde dehydrogenase and a nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide-linked formate dehydrogenase. Identical inhibition by formaldehyde of the first two dehydrogenases suggested that they are actually the same enzyme. The organism had a rapid growth rate, a high cell yield in the chemostat, a high protein content, and a favorable amino acid distribution for use as a source of single-cell protein. Of special interest was the ability of the organism to utilize formaldehyde via the ribulose monophosphate cycle.