Formation and properties of flavoprotein-cytochrome hybrids by recombination of subunits from different species.

p-Cresol methylhydroxylases from four different pseudomonads differ in their isoelectric points and, to a lesser extent, in Mr values and substrate specificity. The enzymes from three species were isolated in homogeneous form, then resolved into their flavoprotein and cytochrome subunits, and the subunits were recombined to yield the nine possible hybrids (i.e. three intraspecies and six interspecies). The resulting flavocytochromes showed extensive similarities in steady-state kinetic parameters and in the dissociation constants of their subunits. Evidence is also presented that a fourth type of p-cresol methylhydroxylase, from Pseudomonas putida (N.C.I.B. 9869, form 'B'), the subunits of which cannot be isolated by the isoelectric focusing technique used to separate the subunits of the other flavocytochromes, nevertheless dissociates slowly at high dilution. The dissociation is reflected by a decline of catalytic activity with time. This process for the 'B' enzyme is prevented by the presence of substrate or an excess of a cytochrome subunit isolated from another enzyme species. Incubation of the dissociated subunits with p-cresol brings about extensive, albeit incomplete, re-association and regeneration of activity.