Genetic evidence for a molybdopterin-containing tellurate reductase.

The genetic identity and cofactor composition of the bacterial tellurate reductase are currently unknown. In this study, we examined the requirement of molybdopterin biosynthesis and molybdate transporter genes for tellurate reduction in Escherichia coli K-12. The results show that mutants deleted of the moaA, moaB, moaE, or mog gene in the molybdopterin biosynthesis pathway lost the ability to reduce tellurate. Deletion of the modB or modC gene in the molybdate transport pathway also resulted in complete loss of tellurate reduction activity. Genetic complementation by the wild-type sequences restored tellurate reduction activity in the mutant strains. These findings provide genetic evidence that tellurate reduction in E. coli involves a molybdoenzyme.