The molybdenum-pterin binding protein is encoded by a multigene family in Clostridium pasteurianum

There are three variants of the molybdenum-pterin binding protein (Mop) encoded by three distinct genes in Clostridium pasteurianum. Nucleotide sequence analysis shows that the three mop genes have greater than 90% homology at the nucleotide level. Upstream from the coding region of each mop gene are potential promoter consensus sequences. Analysis of Mop purified from cells grown under nitrogen-fixing conditions indicates all three genes are expressed. Sequence analysis of the three mop genes and the gene products predicts that there are 10 amino acid replacements among the family. The amino acid replacements are chemically conservative accounting for the co-purification of the three variants of Mop. Protein chemistry data suggest the possibility that glutamic acid residues in Mop may be modified in vivo.