Characterization of Methylophaga sp strain SK1 cytochrome cL expressed in Escherichia coli

Methylophaga sp. strain SKI is a new restricted facultative methanol-oxidizing bacterium that was isolated from seawater. The aim of this study was to characterize the electron carriers involved in the methanol oxidation process in Methylophaga sp. strain SKI. The gene encoding cytochrome c(L) (mxaG) was cloned and the recombinant gene was expressed in Escherichia coli DH5 alpha under strict anaerobic conditions. The recombinant cytochrome cL had the same molecular weight and absorption spectra as the wild-type cytochrome c(L) both in the reduced and oxidized forms. The electron flow rate from methanol dehydrogenase (MDH) to the recombinant cytochrome c(L) was similar to that from MDH to the wild-type cytochrome c(L). These results suggest that recombinant cytochrome c(L) acts as a physiological primary electron acceptor for MDH.