Analysis of the cbbXYZ operon in Rhodobacter sphaeroides

Three genes, cbbX, cbbY, and cbbZ were found downstream from the form I ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RubisCO) genes of Rhodobacter sphaeroides. As in chemoautotrophic bacteria, cbbZ was shown to encode phosphoglycolate phosphatase (PGP), whereas the identities of cbbX and cbbY are not known. To determine the physiological function of the cbbXYZ gene products, we constructed R. sphaeroides strains in which the genes were inactivated and characterized the resultant mutant strains according to growth phenotype and levels of RubisCO and PGP. Only a mutation in cbbX resulted in a discernible phenotype, namely, impaired photoautotrophic growth. No PGP activity was observed in any of the mutants, suggesting that the three genes are transcriptionally linked. Studies with a spontaneous chemoautotrophic competent derivative of the CBBX mutant suggested that the cbbXYZ gene products are not essential for chemoautotrophic growth. PGP activity determined in the wild-type strain grown under a variety of growth conditions, and in various strains containing mutations in Calvin-Benson-Bassham cycle structural and regulatory genes, indicated that transcription of the cbb(I) operon influenced expression of the downstream cbbXYZ operon.