Genetic analysis of the bchC and bchA genes of Rhodobacter sphaeroides.

This study has identified by sequence analysis a single gene in the bchC locus of Rhodobacter sphaeroides and three genes, designated bchX, Y and Z, in the bchA locus, which was previously thought to contain only a single gene. All four genes may reside within the same operon and are transcribed in the order bchC-X-Y-Z. Complementation analysis of eight transposon insertion mutants within these genes suggests that bchX, Y and Z are essential for the reduction of 2-devinyl-2-hydroxyethyl chlorophyllide a and that bchC encodes the 2-desacetyl-2-hydroxyethyl bacteriochlorophyllide a dehydrogenase. Similarity between the putative BchX protein and dinitrogenase reductase proteins suggests that BchX may also be a reductase, supplying electrons for reduction of 2-devinyl-2-hydroxyethyl chlorophyllide a.