Sequence analysis of the gene cluster encoding toluene-3-monooxygenase from Pseudomonas pickettii PKO1

The nucleotide (nt) sequence and gene organization of the locus encoding the initial step of the toluene-3-monooxygenase (Tbu) pathway from Pseudomonas pickettii PKO1 has been determined. This is the first reported nt sequence for a toluene monooxygenase which hydroxylates the C-3 position of toluene. Six tightly assembled structural genes encoding several Tbu were identified and were designated tbuA1, tbuU, tbuB, tbuV, tbuA2 and tbuC. Comparison of the deduced amino acid (aa) sequences of each open reading frame (ORF) with translated sequences from the GenBank database revealed significant overall homology to peptides from the toluene-4-monooxygenase (Tmo) from Pseudomonas mendocina KR1, the multicomponent phenol hydroxylase (Dmp) from Pseudomonas sp. strain CF600 and the methane monooxygenases (Mmo) from both Methylococcus capsulatus (Bath) and Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b. Similarities in both size and aa sequence between the peptides from these multicomponent oxygenases and the putative peptides from Tbu suggested roles for the TbuA1, TbuB, TbuV, TbuA2 and TbuC proteins.