Purification and characterization of membrane-bound hydrogenase from a thermophilic hydrogen-oxidizing bacterium, Pseudomonas hydrogenothermophila strain TH-1

A membrane-bound hydrogenase was purified aerobically by one step using a hydroxyapatite column after solubilization by acetone treatment from a thermophilic hydrogen-oxidizing bacterium, Pseudomonas hydrogenothermophila strain TH-1. The enzyme consists of two polypeptides of 63 and 31 kDa, respectively. The amino-terminal amino acid sequences of both subunits were homologous to membrane-bound type [Ni-Fe] hydrogenases from other origins. The thermostability under a hydrogen gas atmosphere is highly stable at 50 degrees C, which is the optimum temperature for the cell growth.