Open AccessThe fixA and fixB Genes Are Necessary for Anaerobic Carnitine Reduction in Escherichia coli
Author(s) -
Angelique Walt,
Michael L. Kahn
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
journal of bacteriology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.652
H-Index - 246
eISSN - 1067-8832
pISSN - 0021-9193
DOI - 10.1128/jb.184.14.4044-4047.2002
Subject(s) - operon , escherichia coli , biology , carnitine , anaerobic exercise , biochemistry , electron acceptor , escherichia , mutant , gene , microbiology and biotechnology , physiology
In Escherichia coli, the use of carnitine as a terminal electron acceptor depends on a functional caiTABCDE operon. It had been suggested that the adjacent but divergent fixABCX operon is also required for carnitine metabolism, perhaps to provide electrons for carnitine reduction. We have constructed E. coli fixA and fixB mutants and find that they are unable to reduce carnitine to gamma-butyrobetaine under anaerobic conditions.