THE PRIMARY STRUCTURES OF THE FLAVODOXINS FROM 2 STRAINS OF DESULFOVIBRIO-GIGAS - CLONING AND NUCLEOTIDE-SEQUENCE OF THE STRUCTURAL GENES

The structural genes coding for the flavodoxin proteins from two different strains of the sulfate-reducing bacteria Desulfovibrio gigas (ATCC 19364/NCIB 9332 and ATCC 29494/DSM 496) have been identified, cloned and the nucleotide sequence established. The protein sequences derived from the gene from each strain share a sequence identity of 66% with regions directly involved in binding the flavin mononucleotide cofactor being the most homologous. Both aromatic residues that flank the flavin isoalloxazine ring in the crystal structure of the flavodoxin from D. vulgaris, i.e., Trp-60 and Tyr-98, are also present in these flavodoxin proteins. These observations stand in contrast to reports that the flavodoxin from Desulfovibrio gigas contains a single tryptophan residue which is located distant from the flavin binding site. Therefore, the FMN binding site of this flavodoxin is not distinct from the other Desulfovibrio flavodoxins in this regard.