Molecular and catalytic properties of the aldehyde dehydrogenase of Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus, a quinoheme protein containing pyrroloquinoline quinone, cytochrome b, and cytochrome c.

Several aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) complexes have been purified from the membranes of acetic acid bacteria. The enzyme structures and the chemical nature of the prosthetic groups associated with these enzymes remain a matter of debate. We report here on the molecular and catalytic properties of the membrane-bound ALDH complex of the diazotrophic bacterium Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus. The purified ALDH complex is a heterodimer comprising two subunits of 79.7 and 50 kDa, respectively. Reversed-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy led us to demonstrate, for the first time, the unequivocal presence of a pyrroloquinoline quinone prosthetic group associated with an ALDH complex from acetic acid bacteria. In addition, heme b was detected by UV-visible light (UV-Vis) spectroscopy and confirmed by reversed-phase HPLC. The smaller subunit bears three cytochromes c. Aliphatic aldehydes, but not formaldehyde, were suitable substrates. Using ferricyanide as an electron acceptor, the enzyme showed an optimum pH of 3.5 that shifted to pH 7.0 when phenazine methosulfate plus 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol were the electron acceptors. Acetaldehyde did not reduce measurable levels of the cytochrome b and c centers; however, the dithionite-reduced hemes were conveniently oxidized by ubiquinone-1; this finding suggests that cytochrome b and the cytochromes c constitute an intramolecular redox sequence that delivers electrons to the membrane ubiquinone.

The quinohaemoprotein alcohol dehydrogenase from Gluconacetobacter xylinus: molecular and catalytic properties.

Gluconacetobacter xylinus possesses a constitutive membrane-bound oxidase system for the use of ethanol. Its alcohol dehydrogenase complex (ADH) was purified to homogeneity and characterized. It is a 119-kDa heterodimer (68 and 41 kDa subunits). The peroxidase reaction confirmed the presence of haem C in both subunits. Four cytochromes c per enzyme were determined by pyridine hemochrome spectroscopy. Redox titrations of the purified ADH revealed the presence of four haem c redox centers, with apparent mid-point potential values (Em(7)) of -33, +55, +132 and +310 mV, respectively. The ADH complex contains one mol of pyrroloquinoline quinone as determined by HPLC. The enzyme was purified in full reduced state; oxidation was induced by potassium ferricyanide and substrate restores full reduction. Activity responses to pH were sharp, showing two distinct optimal pH values (i.e. pH 5.5 and 6.5) depending on the electron acceptor used. Purified ADH oxidizes primary alcohols (C2-C6) but not methanol. Noteworthy, aliphatic aldehydes (C1-C4) were also good substrates. Myxothiazol and antymicin A were powerful inhibitors of the purified ADH complex, most likely acting at the ubiquinone acceptor site in subunit II.

The succinate:menaquinone reductase of Bacillus cereus: characterization of the membrane-bound and purified enzyme.

Utilization of external succinate by Bacillus cereus and the properties of the purified succinate:menaquinone-7 reductase (SQR) were studied. Bacillus cereus cells showed a poor ability for the uptake of and respiratory utilization of exogenous succinate, thus suggesting that B. cereus lacks a specific succinate uptake system. Indeed, the genes coding for a succinate-fumarate transport system were missing from the genome database of B. cereus. Kinetic studies of membranes indicated that the reduction of menaquinone-7 is the rate-limiting step in succinate respiration. In accordance with its molecular characteristics, the purified SQR of B. cereus belongs to the type-B group of SQR enzymes, consisting of a 65-kDa flavoprotein (SdhA), a 29-kDa iron-sulphur protein (SdhB), and a 19-kDa subunit containing 2 b-type cytochromes (SdhC). In agreement with this, we could identify the 4 conserved histidines in the SdhC subunit predicted by the B. cereus genome database. Succinate reduced half of the cytochrome b content. Redox titrations of SQR-cytochrome b-557 detected 2 components with apparent midpoint potential values at pH 7.6 of 79 and -68 mV, respectively; the components were not spectrally distinguishable by their maximal absorption bands as those of Bacillus subtilis. The physiological properties and genome database analyses of B. cereus are consistent with the cereus group ancestor being an opportunistic pathogen.

Partial bioenergetic characterization of Gluconacetobacter xylinum cells released from cellulose pellicles by a novel methodology.

AIMS: Gluconacetobacter xylinum is well known for its ability to produce large amounts of cellulose, however, little is known about its cell physiology. Our goal was to study the respiratory metabolism and components of the respiratory system of this bacterium in static cultures. To reach our goal, a medium formulation had to be designed to improve cell growth and cellulose production together with a novel method for the recovery of cells from cellulose pellicles. METHODS AND RESULTS: Successive modifications of a nutrient medium improved G. xylinum cell growth 4.5-fold under static culture conditions. A blender homogenization procedure for the releasing of cells from the cellulose matrix gave a high yield of cells recovered. Respiratory activities of purified cells were greatly stimulated by exogenous substrates and showed to be resistant to KCN. Unexpectedly, exogenous NADH was oxidized at high rates. Cytochromes a, b, c and d were identified after spectral analyses. CONCLUSIONS: Partial bioenergetic characterization of G. xylinum cells allowed us to propose a scheme for its respiratory system. In addition, the growth medium for biomass production and the procedure for the efficient recovery of cells from cellulose pellicles were significantly improved. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This work provides the first-ever bioenergetic characterization of G. xylinum grown in static cultures. In addition, a novel methodology to obtain purified cells in suitable quantities for biochemical research is described.

Roles of respiratory oxidases in protecting Escherichia coli K12 from oxidative stress.

Isogenic strains of Escherichia coli that were defective in either of the two major aerobic terminal respiratory oxidases (cytochromes bo' and bd) or in the putative third oxidase (cytochrome bd-II) were studied to elucidate role(s) for oxidases in protecting cells from oxidative stress in the form of H2O2 and paraquat. Exponential phase cultures of all three oxidase mutants exhibited a greater decline in cell viability when exposed to H2O2 stress compared to the isogenic parent wild-type strain. Cytochrome bo' mutants showed the greatest sensitivity to H2O2 under all conditions studied indicating that this oxidase was crucial for protection from H2O2 in E. coli. Cell killing of all oxidase mutants by H2O2 was by an uncharacterized mechanism (mode 2 killing) with cell growth rate affected. The expression of phi(katG-lacZ), an indicator of intracellular H2O2, was 2-fold higher in a cydAB::kan mutant compared to the wild-type strain at low H2O2 concentrations (< 100 microM) suggesting that cytochrome bd mutants were experiencing higher intracellular levels of H2O2. Protein fusions to the three oxidase genes demonstrated that expression of genes encoding cytochrome bd, but not cytochrome bo' or cytochrome bd-II was increased in the presence of external H2O2. This increase in expression of 4P(cydA-lacZ) by H2O2 was further enhanced in a cyo::kan mutant. The level of cytochrome bd determined spectrally and phi(cydA-lacZ) expression was 5-fold and 2-fold higher respectively in an rpoS mutant compared to isogenic wild-type cells suggesting that RpoS was a negative regulator of cytochrome bd. Whether the effect of RpoS is direct or indirect remains to be determined.

Evolution of the adhE gene product of Escherichia coli from a functional reductase to a dehydrogenase. Genetic and biochemical studies of the mutant proteins.

The multifunctional AdhE protein of Escherichia coli (encoded by the adhE gene) physiologically catalyzes the sequential reduction of acetyl-CoA to acetaldehyde and then to ethanol under fermentative conditions. The NH(2)-terminal region of the AdhE protein is highly homologous to aldehyde:NAD(+) oxidoreductases, whereas the COOH-terminal region is homologous to a family of Fe(2+)-dependent ethanol:NAD(+) oxidoreductases. This fusion protein also functions as a pyruvate formate lyase deactivase. E. coli cannot grow aerobically on ethanol as the sole carbon and energy source because of inadequate rate of adhE transcription and the vulnerability of the AdhE protein to metal-catalyzed oxidation. In this study, we characterized 16 independent two-step mutants with acquired and improved aerobic growth ability on ethanol. The AdhE proteins in these mutants catalyzed the sequential oxidation of ethanol to acetaldehyde and to acetyl-CoA. All first stage mutants grew on ethanol with a doubling time of about 240 min. Sequence analysis of a randomly chosen mutant revealed an Ala-267 --> Thr substitution in the acetaldehyde:NAD(+) oxidoreductase domain of AdhE. All second stage mutants grew on ethanol with a doubling time of about 90 min, and all of them produced an AdhE(A267T/E568K). Purified AdhE(A267T) and AdhE(A267T/E568K) showed highly elevated acetaldehyde dehydrogenase activities. It therefore appears that when AdhE catalyzes the two sequential reactions in the counter-physiological direction, acetaldehyde dehydrogenation is the rate-limiting step. Both mutant proteins were more thermosensitive than the wild-type protein, but AdhE(A267T/E568K) was more thermal stable than AdhE(A267T). Since both mutant enzymes exhibited similar kinetic properties, the second mutation probably conferred an increased growth rate on ethanol by stabilizing AdhE(A267T).

Regulation of expression of the adhE gene, encoding ethanol oxidoreductase in Escherichia coli: transcription from a downstream promoter and regulation by fnr and RpoS.

The adhE gene of Escherichia coli, located at min 27 on the chromosome, encodes the bifunctional NAD-linked oxidoreductase responsible for the conversion of acetyl-coenzyme A to ethanol during fermentative growth. The expression of adhE is dependent on both transcriptional and posttranscriptional controls and is about 10-fold higher during anaerobic than during aerobic growth. Two putative transcriptional start sites have been reported: one at position -292 and the other at -188 from the translational start codon ATG. In this study we show, by using several different transcriptional and translational fusions to the lacZ gene, that both putative transcriptional start sites can be functional and each site can be redox regulated. Although both start sites are NarL repressible in the presence of nitrate, Fnr activates only the -188 start site and Fis is required for the transcription of only the -292 start site. In addition, it was discovered that RpoS activates adhE transcription at both start sites. Under all experimental conditions tested, however, only the upstream start site is active. Available evidence indicates that under those conditions, the upstream promoter region acts as a silencer of the downstream transcriptional start site. Translation of the mRNA starting at -292, but not the one starting at -188, requires RNase III. The results support the previously postulated ribosomal binding site (RBS) occlusion model, according to which RNase III cleavage is required to release the RBS from a stem-loop structure in the long transcript.

Regulation of adhE (encoding ethanol oxidoreductase) by the Fis protein in Escherichia coli.

The adhE gene of Escherichia coli encodes a multifunctional ethanol oxidoreductase whose expression is 10-fold higher under anaerobic than aerobic conditions. Transcription of the gene is under the negative control of the Cra (catabolite repressor-activator) protein, whereas translation of the adhE mRNA requires processing by RNase III. In this report, we show that the expression of adhE also depends on the Fis (factor for inversion stimulation) protein. A strain bearing a fis::kan null allele failed to grow anaerobically on glucose solely because of inadequate adhE transcription. However, fis expression itself is not under redox control. Sequence inspection of the adhE promoter revealed three potential Fis binding sites. Electrophoretic mobility shift analysis, using purified Fis protein and adhE promoter DNA, showed three different complexes.

The flavohemoglobin of Escherichia coli confers resistance to a nitrosating agent, a "Nitric oxide Releaser," and paraquat and is essential for transcriptional responses to oxidative stress.

Escherichia coli possesses a flavohemoglobin (Hmp), product of hmp, the first microbial globin gene to be sequenced and characterized at the molecular level. Although related proteins occur in numerous prokaryotes and eukaryotic microorganisms, the function(s) of these proteins have been elusive. Here we report construction of a defined hmp mutation and its use to probe Hmp function. As anticipated from up-regulation of hmp expression by nitric oxide (NO), S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO) or sodium nitroprusside (SNP), the hmp mutant is hypersensitive to these agents. The hmp promoter is more sensitive to SNP and S-nitroso-N-penicillamine (SNAP) than is the soxS promoter, consistent with the role of Hmp in protection from reactive nitrogen species. Additional functions for Hmp are indicated by (a) parallel sensitivity of the hmp mutant to the redox-cycling agent, paraquat, (b) inability of the mutant to up-regulate fully the soxS and sodA promoters in response to oxidative stress caused by paraquat, GSNO and SNP, and (c) failure of the mutant to accumulate reduced paraquat radical after anoxic growth. We conclude that Hmp plays a role in protection from nitrosating agents and NO-related species and oxidative stress. This protective role probably involves direct detoxification of those species and sensing of NO-related and oxidative stress.

A novel mechanism for upregulation of the Escherichia coli K-12 hmp (flavohaemoglobin) gene by the 'NO releaser', S-nitrosoglutathione: nitrosation of homocysteine and modulation of MetR binding to the glyA-hmp intergenic region.

The flavohaemoglobin gene, hmp, of Escherichia coli is upregulated by nitric oxide (NO) in a SoxRS-independent manner. We now show that hmp expression is also upregulated by S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO, widely used as an NO releaser) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP, which is a NO+ donor). Elevated homocysteine (Hcy) levels, achieved either by adding Hcy extracellularly or using metE mutants, decreased hmp expression. Conversely, metC mutants (defective in Hcy synthesis) had higher levels of hmp expression. Mutations in metR abolished hmp induction by GSNO and SNP, and hmp expression became insensitive to Hcy. We propose that the previously documented modulation by Hcy of MetR binding to the glyA-hmp intergenic regulatory region regulates hmp transcription. Although two MetR binding sites are present in this region, only the higher affinity site proximal to hmp is required for hmp induction by GSNO and SNP. GSNO and SNP react with Hcy in vitro under physiologically relevant conditions of pH and temperature generating S-nitrosohomocysteine, although in the latter case this would be co-ordinated to the Fe in SNP as a stable species. The free S-nitrosocysteine generated in the reaction with GSNO breaks down to release NO more readily than via homolysis of GSNO. As GSNO and SNP upregulate hmp similarly, the NO released in the former case on reaction with homocysteine cannot be involved in hmp regulation.

Zinc(II) tolerance in Escherichia coli K-12: evidence that the zntA gene (o732) encodes a cation transport ATPase.

A transposon (Tn 10dCam) insertion mutant of Escherichia coli K-12 was isolated that exhibited hypersensitivity to zinc(II) and cadmium(II) and, to a lesser extent, cobalt(II) and nickel (II). The mutated gene, located between 75.5 and 76.2 min on the chromosome, is named zntA (for Zn(II) transport or tolerance). The metal-sensitive phenotype was complemented by a genomic DNA clone mapping at 3677.90-3684.60 kb on the physical map. Insertion of a kanamycin resistance (KnR) cassette at a SalI site in a subcloned fragment generated a plasmid that partially complemented the zinc(II)-sensitive phenotype. DNA sequence analysis revealed that the KnR cassette was located within the putative promoter region of an ORF (o732 or yhhO) predicted to encode a protein of 732 amino acids, similar to cation transport P-type ATPases in the Cpx-type family. Inverse PCR and sequence analysis revealed that the Tn 10dCam element was located within o732 in the genome of the zinc(II)-sensitive mutant. The zntA mutant had elevated amounts of intracellular and cell surface-bound Zn(II), consistent with the view that zntA+ encodes a zinc(II) efflux protein. Exposure of the zntA mutant to cobalt(II) and cadmium(II) also resulted in elevated levels of intracellular and cell surface-bound metal ions.

Bacterial flavohaemoglobins: a consensus sequence and identification of a discrete enterobacterial group and of further bacterial globins.

The amino acid sequences of haemoglobin-like proteins from the bacteria Alcaligenes eutrophus, Bacillus subtilis, Erwinia chrysanthemi, Escherichia coli, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Vitreoscilla sp. and the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae were studied. Phylogenies based on distance and parsimony analysis showed that the eubacterial group can be easily distinguished from the other haemoglobin-like proteins. The construction of a consensus bacterial flavohaemoglobin based on the alignment of six bacterial and one yeast globins allowed the design of consensus primers to search for haemoglobin-like genes in other bacteria. PCR products of the expected size were found in Campylobacter jejuni, Salmonella typhimurium, Listeria monocytogenes, Rhizobium leguminosarum, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus.

Transcriptional regulation of the cydDC operon, encoding a heterodimeric ABC transporter required for assembly of cytochromes c and bd in Escherichia coli K-12: regulation by oxygen and alternative electron acceptors.

The expression of the cydDC operon was investigated by using a chromosomal phi(cydD-lacZ) transcriptional fusion and primer extension analysis. A single transcriptional start site was found for cydD located 68 bp upstream of the translational start site, and Northern blot analysis confirmed that cydDC is transcribed as a polycistronic message independently of the upstream gene trxB. cydDC was highly expressed under aerobic growth conditions and during anaerobic growth with alternative electron acceptors. Aerobic expression was independent of ArcA and Fnr, but induction of cydDC by nitrate and nitrite was dependent on NarL and Fnr.

Roles of RpoS (sigmaS), IHF and ppGpp in the expression of the hmp gene encoding the flavohemoglobin (Hmp) of Escherichia coli K-12.

The Escherichia coli K-12 gene hmp encodes the flavohemoglobin Hmp. A hmp promoter phi(hmp-lacZ)-operon fusion was constructed in the chromosome and its activity measured during the growth cycle. Logarithmically growing cultures had low levels of phi(hmp-lacZ) expression, which increased two-fold at the onset of stationary phase in rich medium. The effect was abolished in a strain carrying a null allele of the gene rpoS encoding the stationary phase-specific sigma subunit of RNA polymerase sigmaS. A himA mutation resulted in a 1.5-fold increase in expression of phi(hmp-lacZ) but did not affect growth phase-dependent regulation. A single transcriptionial start site was found for hmp, located 38 bp upstream of the initiation codon. Putative Fnr boxes at positions -2 to +11 occur in the hmp promoter region.

Paraquat regulation of hmp (flavohemoglobin) gene expression in Escherichia coli K-12 is SoxRS independent but modulated by sigma S.

We report the first example of a gene, hmp, encoding a soluble flavohemoglobin in Escherichia coli K-12, which is up-regulated by paraquat in a SoxRS-independent manner. Unlike what is found for other paraquat-inducible genes, high concentrations of paraquat (200 microM) were required to increase the level of hmp expression, and maximal induction was observed only after 20 min of exposure to paraquat. Neither a mutation in soxS nor one in soxR prevented the paraquat-dependent increase in phi(hmp-lacZ) expression, but either mutant allele delayed full expression of phi(hmp-lacZ) activity after paraquat addition. Induction of hmp by paraquat was demonstrated in aerobically grown cultures during exponential growth and the stationary phase, thus revealing two Sox-independent regulatory mechanisms. Induction of hmp by paraquat in the stationary phase was dependent on the global regulator of stationary-phase gene expression, RpoS (sigma S). However, a mutation in rpoS did not prevent an increase in hmp expression by paraquat in exponentially growing cells. Induction of sigma S in the exponential phase by heat shock also induced phi(hmp-lacZ) expression in the presence of paraquat, supporting the role of sigma S in one of the regulatory mechanisms. Mutations in oxyR or rob, known regulators of several stress promoters in E. coli, had no effect on the induction of hmp by paraquat. Other known superoxide-generating agents (plumbagin, menadione, and phenazine methosulfate) were not effective in inducing hmp expression.

Nitric oxide, nitrite, and Fnr regulation of hmp (flavohemoglobin) gene expression in Escherichia coli K-12.

Escherichia coli possesses a soluble flavohemoglobin, with an unknown function, encoded by the hmp gene. A monolysogen containing an hmp-lacZ operon fusion was constructed to determine how the hmp promoter is regulated in response to heme ligands (O2, NO) or the presence of anaerobically utilized electron acceptors (nitrate, nitrite). Expression of the phi (hmp-lacZ)1 fusion was similar during aerobic growth in minimal medium containing glucose, glycerol, maltose, or sorbitol as a carbon source. Mutations in cya (encoding adenylate cyclase) or changes in medium pH between 5 and 9 were without effect on aerobic expression. Levels of aerobic and anaerobic expression in glucose-containing minimal media were similar; both were unaffected by an arcA mutation. Anaerobic, but not aerobic, expression of phi (hmp-lacZ)1 was stimulated three- to four-fold by an fnr mutation; an apparent Fnr-binding site is present in the hmp promoter. Iron depletion of rich broth medium by the chelator 2'2'-dipyridyl (0.1 mM) enhanced hmp expression 40-fold under anaerobic conditions, tentatively attributed to effects on Fnr. At a higher chelator concentration (0.4 mM), hmp expression was also stimulated aerobically. Anaerobic expression was stimulated 6-fold by the presence of nitrate and 25-fold by the presence of nitrite. Induction by nitrate or nitrite was unaffected by narL and/or narP mutations, demonstrating regulation of hmp by these ions via mechanisms alternative to those implicated in the regulation of other respiratory genes. Nitric oxide (10 to 20 microM) stimulated aerobic phi (hmp-lacZ)1 activity by up to 19-fold; soxS and soxR mutations only slightly reduced the NO effect. We conclude that hmp expression is negatively regulated by Fnr under anaerobic conditions and that additional regulatory mechanisms are involved in the responses to oxygen, nitrogen compounds, and iron availability. Hmp is implicated in reactions with small nitrogen compounds.

The flavohaemoglobin (HMP) of Escherichia coli generates superoxide in vitro and causes oxidative stress in vivo.

Purified flavohaemoglobin (HMP) of Escherichia coli reduces Fe(III) in a superoxide dismutase (SOD)-sensitive reaction, demonstrating superoxide anion generation during aerobic NADH oxidation. In vivo, sodA-lacZ fusion activity was increased 3-fold by introducing plasmid pPL341, containing the hmp gene, or by growth with paraquat. The effects were additive and SOXS-dependent. Thus HMP activity causes oxidative stress in vivo. Activities of sodA-lacZ and hmp-lacZ fusions were stimulated in a himA mutant, demonstrating repression of both promoters by integration host factor (IHF), but the effects of pPL341 on sodA-lacZ activity were not due to titration of IHF by the hmp promoter.

Topoisomerase activity during the heat shock response in Escherichia coli K-12.

During the upshift of temperature from 30 to 42, 45, 47, or 50 degrees C, an increase in the level of supercoiling of a reporter plasmid was observed. This increase was present in groE and dnaK mutants but was inhibited in cells treated with chloramphenicol and novobiocin. The intracellular [ATP]/[ADP] ratio increased rapidly after an upshift in temperature from 30 to 47 degrees C and then decreased to reach a level above that observed at 30 degrees C. These results suggest that gyrase and proteins synthesized during heat shock are responsible for the changes seen in plasmid supercoiling. Proteins GroE and DnaK are probably not involved in this phenomenon.

Thermally-induced cell lysis in Escherichia coli K12.

Escherichia coli cells exposed to high temperatures exhibit a progressive loss of viability. We observed two mechanisms of cell death induced by lethal temperatures: with and without lysis. The number of cells lysed by heat decreased at later stages of the growth curve, when cells were pre-treated at lower temperatures for 10 minutes and when cells were pre-treated with novobiocin, nalidixic acid and cadmium chloride. Cell lysis was similar in wild type, rpoH, groE and dnaK mutant cells as well as in cells which overproduce heat shock proteins GroE or DnaK. Results using cells aligned for cell division and cells growing at 42 degrees C, 45 degrees C and 47 degrees C suggest that cells near division are more sensitive to lysis and that a high concentration of heat-shock proteins increases their resistance to lysis.

Cloning of a yeast gene coding for the glutamate synthase small subunit (GUS2) by complementation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Escherichia coli glutamate auxotrophs.

A Saccharomyces cerevisiae glutamate auxotroph, lacking NADP-glutamate dehydrogenase (NADP-GDH) and glutamate synthase (GOGAT) activities, was complemented with a yeast genomic library. Clones were obtained which still lacked NADP-GDH but showed GOGAT activity. Northern analysis revealed that the DNA fragment present in the complementing plasmids coded for a 1.5kb mRNA. Since the only GOGAT enzyme so far purified from S. cerevisiae is made up of a small and a large subunit, the size of the mRNA suggested that the cloned DNA fragment could code for the GOGAT small subunit. Plasmids were purified and used to transform Escherichia coli glutamate auxotrophs. Transformants were only recovered when the recipient strain was an E. coli GDH-less mutant lacking the small GOGAT subunit. These data show that we have cloned the structural gene coding for the yeast small subunit (GUS2). Evidence is also presented indicating that the GOGAT enzyme which is synthesized in the E. coli transformants is a hybrid comprising the large E. coli subunit and the small S. cerevisiae subunit.