Formate-nitrate respiration in Salmonella typhimurium: studies of two rha-linked fdn genes

Localized mutagenesis was used to obtain rha-linked mutations in Salmonella typhimurium, resulting in defects in the nitrate reductase-linked formate dehydrogenase (FDHN). The fdn mutants obtained fell into two groups which differed in several respects. Group I isolates lacked FDHN activity under all conditions examined and exhibited wild-type levels of the hydrogenase-linked formate dehydrogenase (FDHH). Group II isolates appeared defective in FDHN only when freshly prepared extracts were assayed; restoration of both FDHN and formate-nitrate reduction activity occurred on incubation of extracts for 2 to 3 h. Protease inhibitors prevented restoration. Group II isolates were also characterized by a conditional FDHH activity; this activity was absent unless the growth medium designed to optimize wild-type FDHH was altered either by lowering glucose concentration or by adding thiosulfate. Cotransduction of fdn with rha ranged from 4 to 22% for the group I isolates and from 20 to 40% for the group II isolates. Temperature-sensitive isolates from both groups synthesized FDHN activity with altered thermostability. In vitro complementation occurred in mixed extracts of amber mutants of the two respective classes. The results are consistent with two distinct rha-linked fdn genes, for which we suggest using the designations fdnB (group I) and fdnC (group II).