Sequence analysis of the Pseudomonas sp. strain P51 tcb gene cluster, which encodes metabolism of chlorinated catechols: evidence for specialization of catechol 1,2-dioxygenases for chlorinated substrates

Pseudomonas sp. strain P51 contains two gene clusters located on catabolic plasmid pP51 that encode the degradation of chlorinated benzenes. The nucleotide sequence of a 5,499-bp region containing the chlorocatechol-oxidative gene cluster tcbCDEF was determined. The sequence contained five large open reading frames, which were all colinear. The functionality of these open reading frames was studied with various Escherichia coli expression systems and by analysis of enzyme activities. The first gene, tcbC, encodes a 27.5-kDa protein with chlorocatechol 1,2-dioxygenase activity. The tcbC gene is followed by tcbD, which encodes cycloisomerase II (39.5 kDa); a large open reading frame (ORF3) with an unknown function; tcbE, which encodes hydrolase II (25.8 kDa); and tcbF, which encodes a putative trans-dienelactone isomerase (37.5 kDa). The tcbCDEF gene cluster showed strong DNA homology (between 57.6 and 72.1% identity) and an organization similar to that of other known plasmid-encoded operons for chlorocatechol metabolism, e.g., clcABD of Pseudomonas putida and tfdCDEF of Alcaligenes eutrophus JMP134. The identity between amino acid sequences of functionally related enzymes of the three operons varied between 50.6 and 75.7%, with the tcbCDEF and tfdCDEF pair being the least similar of the three. Measurements of the specific activities of chlorocatechol 1,2-dioxygenases encoded by tcbC, clcA, and tfdC suggested that a specialization among type II enzymes has taken place. TcbC preferentially converts 3,4-dichlorocatechol relative to other chlorinated catechols, whereas TfdC has a higher activity toward 3,5-dichlorocatechol. ClcA takes an intermediate position, with the highest activity level for 3-chlorocatechol and the second-highest level for 3,5-dichlorocatechol.