The coxD gene for heme O synthase in Synechocystis

The cyanobacterial coxD gene for heme O synthase was cloned from Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 and its nucleotide sequence was determined. The deduced amino-acid sequence of the gene was homologous to the amino-acid sequences of bacterial heme O synthesis. In contrast to the genes for heme O synthases in other prokaryotes, which are clustered together with genes for the structural subunit(s) of cytochrome oxidase, the coxD gene is not linked to such genes on the chromosome of Synechocystis.