Part:BBa_K2728004

GFA - A Glutathione-Dependent Formaldehyde-Activating Enzyme

Basic Description

An enzyme from Paracoccus denitrificans that accelerates this spontaneous condensation reaction, which catalyze the conversion of formaldehyde and glutathione was purified and named glutathione-dependent formaldehyde-activating enzyme (Gfa). The gene GFA is located directly upstream of the gene for glutathione-dependent formaldehyde dehydrogenase, which catalyzes the subsequent oxidation of S-hydroxymethylglutathione. The glutathione-dependent formaldehyde conversion to formate starts with the adduct formation, formaldehyde reacts with the SH group of glutathione producing S-hydroxymethylglutathione (Reaction 1).

Fig 1: Thiol-dependent pathway

Formaldehyde-converting enzymes-Gfa is composed of one type of subunit of about 20 kDa and lack a chromophoric prosthetic group. In addition, both enzymes are encoded next to genes for enzymes involved in further oxidation of the cofactor-bound one-carbon unit to carbon dioxide.

Sequence

We ordered the synthesized plasmid from Genscript. After restriction digestion & transformation, we got our E. coli with GFA.

Origin

This gene originated from P. denitrificans. Putative proteins with sequence identity to GFA from P. denitrificans are present also in Rhodobacter sphaeroides, Sinorhizobium meliloti, and Mesorhizobium loti.

Experimental Characterization

We have tested the influence of GFA in different formaldehyde concentration. Cultures were inoculated from overnights to an optical density (OD) of 0.05 in 5 mL in 15 mL disposable culture tubes, incubated at 37 °C for 2−3 h, and dosed with 0−500 μM formaldehyde (MP Biomedicals, Santa Ana, CA). And we aimed at comparing the effect of GFA test E. coli with normal E. coli BL21 in formaldehyde environment by OD600nm. But in 100~500uM formaldehyde, there are no difference in BL21 with test E. coli.

References

Goenrich, M., Bartoschek, S., Hagemeier, C. H., Griesinger, C. & Vorholt, J. A. (2002). A glutathione-dependent formaldehydeactivating enzyme (Gfa) from Paracoccus denitrificans detected and purified via two-dimensional proton exchange NMR spectroscopy.J Biol Chem 277, 3069–3072. Rohlhill J, Sandoval N R, Papoutsakis E T. Sort-seq approach to engineering a formaldehyde-inducible promoter for dynamically regulated Escherichia coli growth on methanol.[J]. Acs Synthetic Biology, 2017, 6(8).

Sequence and Features

Assembly Compatibility:

• 10
  COMPATIBLE WITH RFC[10]
• 12
  COMPATIBLE WITH RFC[12]
• 21
  COMPATIBLE WITH RFC[21]
• 23
  COMPATIBLE WITH RFC[23]
• 25
  COMPATIBLE WITH RFC[25]
• 1000
  COMPATIBLE WITH RFC[1000]