A carbon monoxide-binding hemoprotein formed by heme accumulation in Escherichia coli

A CO-binding hemochrome was accumulated in Escherichia coli cells, when intracellular heme concentration was increased by aerobic incubation of resting cell suspensions with ALA. Reduced minus oxidized difference spectrum of the hemochrome showed peaks at 560, 530, and 430 nm and a shoulder at 575 nm. The peaks of CO reduced minus reduced difference spectrum were located at 572, 540, and 422 nm. The CO spectrum was similar to but not identical with the spectrum of cytochrome o, a known terminal oxidase in E. coli. SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the CO-binding hemochrome showed its molecular weight to be about 33,000. The hemochrome in crude cell-free extracts was oxidized by aeration and reduced by the addition of succinate or NADH. The reduction by succinate was inhibited by inhibitors of succinate dehydrogenase [EC 1.3.99.1], and the reduction by NADH was inhibited by 2-heptyl-4-hydroxy-quinolin-N-oxide, which is an inhibitor of electron transport in E. coli cells.