A monobromoacetate dehalogenase from Pseudomonas cepacia MBA4

Abstract

Pseudomonas cepacia MBA4 able to utilize monobromoacetic acid as a sole source of carbon and energy was isolated from soil by enrichment culture. In batch culture the ability to utilize the substrate was conferred by a single halidohydrolase-type dehalogenase which demonstrated a high activity towards the enrichment substrate. The purified enzyme, designated as dehalogenase IVa by activity-stain polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, had a relative molecular weight of 45,000 and was comprised of two electrophoretically identical subunits with relative molecular weights of 23,000. Dehalogenase IVa demonstrated isomer specificity, being active towards the L-isomer of 2-monochloropropionic acid only. The significance of activity-stain polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in characterizing dehalogenases and their ubiquitous distribution among bacterial genera are discussed. © 1988 Springer-Verlag.