Acinetobacter calcoaceticus genes involved in biosynthesis of the coenzyme pyrrolo-quinoline-quinone: nucleotide sequence and expression in Escherichia coli K-12.

Synthesis of the coenzyme pyrrolo-quinoline-quinone (PQQ) from Acinetobacter calcoaceticus requires the products of at least four different genes. In this paper we present the nucleotide sequence of a 5,085-base-pair DNA fragment containing these four genes. Within the DNA fragment three reading frames are present, coding for proteins of Mr 10,800, 29,700, and 43,600 and corresponding to three of the PQQ genes. In the DNA region where the fourth PQQ gene was mapped the largest possible reading frame encodes for a polypeptide of only 24 amino acids. Still, the expression of this region is essential for the biosynthesis of PQQ. A possible role for this DNA region is discussed. Sandwiched between two PQQ genes an additional reading frame is present, coding for a protein of Mr 33,600. This gene, which is probably transcribed in the same operon as three of the PQQ genes, seems not required for PQQ synthesis. Expression of the PQQ genes in Acinetobacter lwoffi and Escherichia coli K-12 led to the synthesis of the coenzyme in these organisms.