CYTOCHROME-C-551 OF THE THERMOPHILIC BACTERIUM PS3, DNA-SEQUENCE AND ANALYSIS OF THE MATURE CYTOCHROME

The structural gene for cytochrome c-551 was isolated from genomic DNA of the thermophilic bacterium PS3. The amino acid sequence of cytochrome c-551 as deduced from the DNA sequence consists of 111 amino acid residues and contains one heme c-binding site (-CASCH-) located approximately in the middle of the polypeptide. The N-terminus of isolated cytochrome c-551 was blocked, but treatment with Rhizopus lipase and molecular weight measurement of the mature and lipase-treated forms by ion spray mass spectroscopy suggest that the mature c-551 may have 93 or 94 amino acid residues with a diacylated glycerol-cysteine at the N-terminal region. The first 17 or 18 amino acid residues in the N-terminal region of the nascent polypeptide, rich in hydrophobic and basic amino acid residues, may be a signal peptide to translocate the major portion of cytochrome c-551 to the extracellular surface and to be processed. Similarity of amino acid sequence of this protein is discussed in relation to other c-type cytochromes of bacilli as well as bacterial small cytochromes c such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa cytochrome c-551 and cytochrome c6 of cyanobacteria.