Cloning and expression of fumarate reductase gene of Escherichia coli.

Mutants of Escherichia coli deficient in fumarate reductase activity and therefore unable to grow anaerobically with fumarate as an electron acceptor have been isolated. By F+-mediated conjugation and complementation with the mutant host, two E. coli: Col E1 recombinant DNA plasmids have been identified from the Clarke and Carbon Colony Bank which carry the structural genes for fumarate reductase. Bacteria harboring either of these plasmids express about ten times the normal level of fumarate reductase. Enzyme purified from the two sources, plasmid-carrying and plasmidless E. coli, have identical physical and kinetic properties indicating that both the 69 000 and 25 000 dalton polypeptides are amplified. Regulation of plasmid-encoded enzyme, like the chromosomally encoded enzyme, is dependent upon the presence of fumarate and anaerobiosis.