Characterization of the gor gene of the lactic acid bacterium Streptococcus thermophilus CNRZ368

Cloning and characterization of the gor gene of the lactic acid bacterium Streptococcus thermophilus, encoding glutathione reductase, are described in this paper. This enzyme is a part of the enzymatic defences against oxidative stress in eukaryotic cells and in Gram-negative bacteria, but was never found in Gram-positive bacteria before this study. The amino acid sequence shares extensive similarities with glutathione reductases from other organisms, e.g. 62% amino acid identity with Escherichia coli protein. Northern blot analysis and glutathione reductase enzyme assays gave evidence that the gene is expressed in aerobically growing cells.