利用Mariannaea sp.HJ菌株胞内提取物合成纳米银及其抗菌特性研究

【目的】近年来,纳米银由于其自身独特的抗菌活性而受到越来越多的关注,有研究表明纳米银是一种广谱的抗菌剂,其对数十种致病微生物都有强烈的抑制和杀灭作用。相较于传统的合成方法而言,具有反应条件温和、环境友好等优势的生物合成法是目前的研究热点。【方法】本研究利用真菌Mariannaea sp. HJ的胞内提取物合成纳米银,并对其合成条件进行优化调控,还进一步考察了合成的纳米银颗粒的抗菌性能。【结果】胞内提取物浓度350 mg/L、AgNO_3浓度5 mmol/L、pH 7.0为菌株HJ胞内提取物合成纳米银的最优条件;TEM图像表明合成的纳米银颗粒主要为球形和伪球形,分散性良好,无明显的团聚现象;XRD表明合成的纳米银晶体结构为面心立方体结构;通过FTIR分析结果推测提取物中的羟基、羧基等官能团可能参与了纳米银的还原和稳定过程。此外,在本实验条件下合成的纳米银颗粒对革兰氏阴性菌Escherichia coli BL21和革兰氏阳性菌Arthrobacter sp. W1都有较好的抗菌活性。【结论】真菌Mariannaea sp. HJ胞内提取物能合成尺寸均一且分散性良好的球形纳米银颗粒,合成的纳米银颗粒在抗菌方面具有潜在的研究价值。     

大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)膜组分相关基因的敲除对重组蛋白胞外分泌的影响

摘要:【目的】探究Escherichia coli BL21(DE3)中膜组分相关的脂多糖合成基因waaF或msbB的敲除对重组蛋白胞外分泌的影响。【方法】运用Red重组技术将E.coli BL21 (DE3)染色体上的基因waaF或msbB敲除,构建敲除菌株E.coli BL21(ΔwaaF)、E.coli BL21(ΔmsbB)。将本实验室保存的带有β-呋喃果糖苷酶(β-fructofuranosidase,β-FFase)、青霉素G 酰化酶(penicillin G acylase,PGA)基因的重组质粒pET-ffase、pET-pga分别转入敲除菌株及出发菌株中,构建工程菌株E.coli BL21(ΔmsbB)/pET-ffase、E.coli BL21(ΔwaaF)/pET-ffase、E.coli BL21(DE3)/pET-ffase、E.coli BL21(ΔmsbB)/pET-pga、E.coli BL21(ΔwaaF)/pET-pga、E.coli BL21(DE3)/pET-pga。最后通过摇瓶发酵研究敲除菌株对β-FFase、PGA胞外分泌的影响。【结果】当诱导表达4 h,以出发菌株E.coli BL21(DE3)为宿主时,β-呋喃果糖苷酶β-FFase的胞外分泌量占总表达量的2.6%,以敲除菌株ΔmsbB为宿主时,胞外分泌量达到19.7%,而以敲除菌株ΔwaaF为宿主时,胞外分泌量达到50.9%。另外,当诱导表达24 h,以敲除菌株ΔwaaF为宿主时,青霉素G酰化酶PGA的胞外酶活是出发菌株中的4.1倍,达到1708 U/L。【结论】本研究成功构建了敲除菌株ΔmsbB和ΔwaaF,ΔmsbB能明显增强β-FFase的胞外分泌,而ΔwaaF对β-FFase和PGA的胞外分泌均有显著的强化作用。     

耐高盐枯草芽孢杆菌XP合成球形纳米硒及其抑制草莓病原真菌生物活性

生物方法合成纳米材料具有低能耗、高安全性以及环境友好等优良特点,因而备受人们关注。利用细菌将硒酸盐或亚硒酸盐还原为单质硒,不仅可以降低硒毒性,而且还能获得价值更高的生物纳米材料。文中选用可耐受高盐环境胁迫的枯草芽孢杆菌亚种Bacillus subtilis subspecies stercoris strain XP构建生物模型,分别以LB液体培养基和亚硒酸钠为介质和底物 (电子受体),解析菌株XP合成纳米硒的基本规律。通过扫描电镜 (Scanning electron microscope,SEM) 观察、X射线能谱分析 (X-ray energy dispersive spectral analysis,EDAX)、X射线衍射 (X-ray diffraction,XRD) 分析、傅里叶红外变换光谱 (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy,FTIR) 技术对合成的纳米硒进行物理化学表征分析,同时选用草莓枯萎、红叶、紫斑病病原真菌对其抗菌活性进行分析。结果表明,菌株XP介导合成的单质硒为球形纳米颗粒 (Selenium nanoparticles,SeNPs),其生成量与反应时间呈正相关 (0–48 h),且细胞形态未发生褶皱或破损等变化 (耐受力强);SeNPs为非晶态,粒径范围在135–165 nm,表面元素组成以Se为主,同时存在C、O、N、S等有机元素;颗粒表面包裹生物大分子物质,-OH、C=O、N-H、C-H等官能团与SeNPs稳定性和生物活性密切相关;高浓度纳米硒对枯萎、红叶、紫斑病病原真菌均有显著抑制活性 (P<0.05),其中对草莓红叶病与枯萎病病原真菌的抑制活性明显优于对紫斑病病原真菌的抑制活性。总而言之,菌株XP不仅耐受高盐胁迫能力强,同时还可介导合成生物SeNPs,其合成的纳米硒颗粒具有良好的稳定性和生物活性,在草莓病害防治以及绿色富硒草莓种植等领域具有潜在的应用价值。     

假单胞菌M-18qscR突变株的构建及其对抗生素合成的调控

在革兰氏阴性菌中,全局性调控因子QscR参与菌群传感调节系统,调节多种毒素因子、次生代谢产物、稳定期基因以及参与生物膜形成的基因的表达,它通过与靶基因DNA启动子的调节元件结合,调节基因转录。假单胞菌株(Pseudomonas sp.)M-18是促进植物生长的根际细菌,能同时分泌藤黄绿菌素(pyoluterion,Plt)和吩嗪-1-羧酸(phenazine-1-carboxylicacid,PCA)。运用同源重组技术,构建了假单胞菌(Pseudomonas sp.)M-18株的qscR突变菌株M-18Q。比较野生株M-18和突变株M-18Q生物合成PCA和Plt的产量,在28℃恒温条件下,在PPM和KMB培养基中M-18Q菌株合成PCA的量分别约为野生型M-18菌株的4～6倍和3～5倍,分别达到480μg/mL和140μg/mL。在PPM培养基中,野生株M-18和突变株M-18Q几乎都没有Plt的合成,而在KMB培养基中,突变菌株和野生型M-18合成Plt的量基本一致。反式互补实验表明,在qscR突变株M-18Q中,PCA生物合成受到抑制而Plt的生物合成却不受影响。phzA基因是吩嗪合成基因簇中第一个基因,phzA‘-’lacZ翻译融合实验表明,qscR基因产物通过抑制PCA合成基因簇的表达,实施负调控作用。结果表明qscR基因是作为一个全局调控基因区别性地调控PCA和Plt的生物合成。     

土壤假单胞菌593使用Pcs途径合成磷酯酰胆碱

【目的】原核生物有两条代谢途径N-甲基化途径(Pmt途径)和磷脂酰胆碱合酶途径(Pcs途径)合成磷脂酰胆碱(PC)。本文对土壤细菌Pseudomonas sp.593的磷脂酰胆碱合成进行了研究,试图弄清楚假单胞菌的磷脂酰胆碱的合成途径。【方法】通过氨基酸序列比较,获得已报道的磷脂酰胆碱合酶(Pcs)的氨基酸保守序列,并设计简并引物,从Pseudomonas sp.593总DNA中PCR扩增出磷脂酰胆碱合酶基因(pcs)的片段,然后用扩增的DNA片段作探针,对Pseudomonas sp.593基因组DNA亚克隆文库进行菌落原位杂交,获得pcs全基因序列;利用同源重组原理进行活体突变,获得Pseudomonas sp.593 pcs-突变体;采用薄层层析(TLC)法分析细菌总磷脂,检测PC含量以及pcs基因活性。【结果】TLC分析显示Pseudomonas sp.593细菌仅在添加外源胆碱的M9或LB培养基中生长时才合成PC;从Pseudomonas sp.593细菌中克隆出894 bp的DNA序列,编码的蛋白具有磷脂酰胆碱合酶活性;活体缺失pcs基因后,Pseudomonas sp.593 pcs-突变体在添加或不添加胆碱的条件下都不能合成PC。【结论】Pcs途径是土壤Pseudomonas sp.593乃至其它假单胞菌合成磷脂酰胆碱的唯一途径。     

纳米颗粒抗菌机理的研究进展

随着具有抗菌效应的纳米颗粒被大量报道,纳米颗粒的抑菌杀菌机理也成为重要的研究领域并取得一定进展,本文综述了常见纳米颗粒作用机理的研究进展。当前大多数实验表明,纳米颗粒引起细胞膜的破坏是其抗菌抑菌效应的主要原因,结合已有研究,作者提出,纳米颗粒抑菌杀菌分为四个阶段:同细胞的接触、与细胞膜的相互作用及对膜的破坏、胞内杀菌和细菌死亡。文中重点分析探讨了纳米颗粒同细菌细胞膜作用过程中一些待解答的基础性问题。最后通过比较发现,纳米颗粒同抗生素作用方式相异,而与抗菌肽的作用模式相近,细菌对纳米颗粒较难产生耐药性,这对当前治疗耐药菌株的感染有良好的前景。     

贯叶连翘总提取物对致病细菌的抗菌作用

用平板抑菌法检测了贯叶连翘总提取物对细菌的抗菌谱范围,用最低抑菌浓度(MIC)检测法、最低杀菌浓度(MBC)检测法检测了其抗菌作用的强弱。结果表明提取物对供试革兰氏阳性菌菌株均有较强的抑菌和杀菌作用,对极少数革兰氏阴性菌菌株有较弱的抑菌作用,无杀菌作用。该结果提示提取物抗菌作用可能与细菌细胞壁的结构与组成相关。     

马利亚霉菌(Mariannaeasp.) HJ合成金属硒化物及机理研究

[背景] 金属硒化物因其优异的光电和催化特性,近年来在半导体、电化学及抗癌等领域成为了研究热点。相较于传统的化学还原法,生物合成金属硒化物具有环境友好、耗能较低等优势。然而,目前有关生物合成金属硒化合物的微生物资源较少且相关合成机理尚不明晰。[目的] 利用马利亚霉菌（Mariannaea sp.） HJ合成了3种金属硒化物并对其合成机理进行了初步探索。[方法] 利用X射线衍射（X-Ray Diffraction,XRD）和傅里叶转换红外线光谱（Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy,FTIR）对菌株HJ合成的金属硒化物进行了初步的表征,考察了纳米材料合成过程中总巯基含量、总抗氧化性能及自由基含量变化,并且验证了转运蛋白DMT1在金属硒化物合成中所起的关键性作用。[结果] XRD结果表明菌株HJ能够在Bi³⁺、Pb²⁺、Co²⁺与SeO₃^2-作用下分别合成Bi₄Se₃、PbSe和CoSe₂纳米颗粒,其合成的最优pH条件分别为6.0、7.0、8.0。FTIR结果表明,合成的金属硒化物表面含有氨基、羧基、羟基等官能团。3种金属硒化物的合成反应体系与空白对照组相比,总巯基含量明显下降,而总抗氧化性能却有所提高,这表明巯基等酶促体系或氨基酸金属蛋白类的非酶促体系可能参与了SeO₃^2-的还原过程。苄基异硫脲盐酸盐屏蔽实验表明,转运蛋白DMT1在SeO₃^2-转运和金属硒化物分泌过程中起到关键作用。此外,Bi³⁺、Pb²⁺和Co²⁺的加入使得菌株HJ产生氧化应激反应,在胞外分泌了大量的过氧化氢、羟基自由基和超氧自由基,而上述自由基可通过诱导热激效应的方式增强金属离子或纳米颗粒的转运过程。[结论] 利用马利亚霉菌（Mariannaeasp.） HJ合成了Bi₄Se₃、PbSe和CoSe₂纳米颗粒,为研究金属硒化物的生物合成及机理提供了一定的理论参考。     

硝磺草酮抗性菌株的筛选及抗性基因的克隆表达

【目的】从采集的土壤中筛选出硝磺草酮的抗性菌株,并从中克隆对羟苯基丙酮酸双加氧酶抗性基因。【方法】以酪氨酸为唯一碳源,采用富集培养法筛选分离硝磺草酮抗性菌株,利用16S rRNA基因序列分析对菌株进行初步鉴定。通过PCR扩增获得其HHPD基因序列,构建pETH4表达载体并在大肠杆菌Escherichia coli BL21(DE3)中进行异源表达。通过检测色素在440 nm处的吸收值分析菌株E. coli BL21(DE3)-pETH4对硝磺草酮的抗性特性。【结果】在含10 mmol/L硝磺草酮和1 g/L酪氨酸的选择培养基上,分离得到7株硝磺草酮抗性细菌,1株为不动杆菌属,2株为无色杆菌属,4株为假单胞菌属。从抗性最佳的Pseudomonas sp. AM-H4中扩增得到HPPD的基因片段为1 056 bp,其序列与Acinetobacter baumannii基因组中HPPD的基因序列相似性达到99%,341位点由天冬氨酸突变为丙氨酸。HPPD基因在大肠杆菌中实现异源表达,蛋白分子量大小约40 kD。菌株E. coli BL21(DE3)-pETH4在40 μmol/L硝磺草酮酪氨酸LB培养基中的色素吸收值显著降低,能够耐受高于200 μmol/L的硝磺草酮。【结论】克隆获得的HPPD具有良好的硝磺草酮抗性,将在新除草剂抗性作物选育中有一定的应用潜力。     

基因工程菌Pseudomonas sp.B4的构建及其产邻苯二酚发酵条件的初步研究

利用PCR技术以Pseudomonas sp. B3-1基因组DNA为模板,扩增出2.9kb编码苯甲酸双加氧酶基因簇benABC。将该基因簇连接于pLAFRJ载体,电转化至E．coli DH5α,再通过三亲本结合法导入野生菌株Pseudomonas sp. B3-1中,得到了一株邻苯二酚产量提高的基因工程菌,命名为Pseudomonas sp.B4。发酵条件优化表明,当苯甲酸钠浓度为6.0 g/L,聚蛋白胨浓度为2.0 g/L,温度为32℃以及pH值为6.0时,工程菌在200rpm旋转摇床发酵36小时后,邻苯二酚产量达到0.7 mg/ml,比优化前提高了20％。     

Localization of polyamine enhancement of protein synthesis to subcellular components of Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas sp. strain Kim.

At 5 mM Mg2+, spermidine stimulation of polyphenylalanine synthesis by cell-free extracts of Escherichia coli was found to be about 30 times greater than that by extracts of Pseudomonas sp. strain Kim, a unique organism which lacks detectable levels of spermidine. By means of reconstitution experiments, the target of spermidine stimulation was localized to the protein fraction of the highspeed supernatant component (S-100) of E. coli and was absent from, or deficient in, the S-100 fraction of Pseudomonas sp. strain Kim. The spermidine stimulation did not appear to be due to the presence in the E. coli S-100 fraction of ribosomal protein S1, elongation factors, or E. coli aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases. The failure to observe spermidine stimulation by the Pseudomonas sp. strain Kim S-100 fraction was also not due to a spermidine-enhanced polyuridylic acid degradation. The synthesis of polyphenylalanine by Pseudomonas sp. strain Kim extracts was stimulated by putrescine and by S-(+)-2-hydroxyputrescine to a greater degree than was synthesis by E. coli extracts. The enhancement by putrescine and by S-(+)-2-hydroxyputrescine with Pseudomonas sp. strain Kim extracts was found to be due to effects on its ribosomes.     

Gene cloning, structural gene and promoter identification, and active assay of the phosphatidylcholine synthase of Pseudomonas sp. strain 593

Pseudomonas sp. strain 593, a soil bacterium, is able to use exogenous choline to synthesize phosphatidylcholine via phosphatidylcholine synthase (Pcs). A 2020 bp DNA fragment that hybridized to a Pcs probe was cloned. This fragment contained a large open reading frame (ORF) with two potential ATG start sites that would encode for 293 and 231 amino acid proteins. Fragments containing the two ORFs encoded Pcs when they were inserted into the expression vector pET23a and expressed under the control of the T7 promoter in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3) pLysS. However, when the two ORFs were inserted into the cloning vector pMD18-T and expressed without control of the plasmid promoter in E. coli DH5α, only the larger clone exhibited Pcs activity. This suggested that the larger fragment contained a native promoter driving expression of the smaller ORF. A promoter activity assay, in which DNA fragments were inserted into the promoter-probe plasmid pCB182 and β-galactosidase activity of E. coli transformants was tested, demonstrated that a promoter is indeed present in the DNA region. All results together indicate that the 696 bp ORF, not the larger 897 bp ORF, encodes the Pcs in Pseudomonas sp. strain 593 and carries a promoter in front of its 5' terminus.     

Antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of Spirulina platensis extracts and biogenic selenium nanoparticles against selected pathogenic bacteria and fungi

This study investigated the antimicrobial and antioxidant activity of three Spirulina extracts (methanol, acetone, and hexane) and the biological selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) fabricated by Bacillus subtilis AL43. The results showed that Spirulina extracts exhibited antimicrobial activity against tested pathogens. Besides, Spirulina extracts significantly scavenged ABTS and DPPH radicals in a dose-dependent manner. The methanolic extract had higher total phenolic content, antimicrobial activity, and antioxidant activity than other extracts. The selenium nanoparticles were synthesized by Bacillus subtilis AL43 under aerobic conditions and were characterized as spherical, crystalline with a size of 65.23 nm and a net negative charge of ?22.7. We evidenced that SeNPs possess considerable antimicrobial activity against three gram-positive, three gram-negative bacteria, and three strains from both Candida sp. and Aspergillus sp. Moreover, SeNPs were able to scavenge ABTS and DPPH radicals in a dose-dependent manner. An association was found between the total phenolic content of Spirulina and SeNPs and their biological activities. Our results indicate that Spirulina and SeNPs with significant antimicrobial and antioxidant activities seem to be successful candidates for safe and reliable medical applications.     

对硝基苯酚降解菌Pseudomonas sp. PDS-7的降解特性及 其降解相关基因的克隆

[目的]本研究的目的是分离对硝基苯酚(PNP)降解菌,研究其对PNP的降解特性;克隆其降解相关基因,并进行表达.[方法]本研究通过富集培养法和系列稀释平板涂布法分离PNP降解菌株;采用形态观察、生理生化特征测定和16S rDNA分析对菌株进行初步鉴定;通过摇瓶试验研究菌株降解特性;利用SEFA-PCR技术克隆降解相关基因,并亚克隆到表达载体pET29a中,构建重组表达质粒pETpnpC,再转入受体菌E.coli BL21(DE3)中进行诱导表达;通过分光光度法测定表达产物的酶活力.[结果]分离到一株PNP降解菌PDS-7,将该菌株鉴定为假单胞菌属(Pseudomonassp.);该菌株能够以PNP作为唯一碳源、氮源和能源生长,菌株对PNP的最高耐受浓度为80 mg/L,最适降解温度为30℃,偏碱性条件有利于菌株对PNP的降解;克隆了PNP降解过程中的偏苯三酚1,2-双加氧酶基因pnpC及马来酰醋酸还原酶基因pnpD(GenBank登陆号EU233791);将pnpC在E.coli BL21(DE3)菌株进行了诱导表达,表达产物对偏苯三酚和邻苯二酚均有邻位开环活性,比活力分别为0.45 U/mg protein和0.37 U/mg protein,表明偏苯三酚1,2-双加氧酶基因pnpC得到了活性表达.[结论]分离鉴定了一株PNP降解菌Pseudomonas sp.PDS-7,研究了该菌株的降解特性,克隆和表达了降解相关基因.     

The function of cytoplasmic flavin reductases in the reduction of azo dyes by bacteria

A flavin reductase, which is naturally part of the ribonucleotide reductase complex of Escherichia coli, acted in cell extracts of recombinant E. coli strains under aerobic and anaerobic conditions as an "azo reductase." The transfer of the recombinant plasmid, which resulted in the constitutive expression of high levels of activity of the flavin reductase, increased the reduction rate for different industrially relevant sulfonated azo dyes in vitro almost 100-fold. The flavin reductase gene (fre) was transferred to Sphingomonas sp. strain BN6, a bacterial strain able to degrade naphthalenesulfonates under aerobic conditions. The flavin reductase was also synthesized in significant amounts in the Sphingomonas strain. The reduction rates for the sulfonated azo compound amaranth were compared for whole cells and cell extracts from both recombinant strains, E. coli, and wild-type Sphingomonas sp. strain BN6. The whole cells showed less than 2% of the specific activities found with cell extracts. These results suggested that the cytoplasmic anaerobic "azo reductases," which have been described repeatedly in in vitro systems, are presumably flavin reductases and that in vivo they have insignificant importance in the reduction of sulfonated azo compounds.     

Distribution of the isopropylmalate pathway to leucine among diverse bacteria

alpha-Isopropylmalate synthase and beta-isopropylmalate dehydrogenase activities were detected in extracts of the following organisms: Chromatium D, Rhodopseudomonas spheroides, Hydrogenomonas H16, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Vibrio extorquens, Rhizobium japonicum, Alcaligenes viscolactis, Escherichia coli B, Proteus vulgaris, Aerobacter aerogenes, Salmonella typhimurium, Micrococcus sp., Micrococcus lysodeikticus, Bacillus polymyxa, Bacillus subtilis, and Nocardia opaca. The alpha-isopropylmalate synthase activity in these extracts was inhibited by low concentrations of l-leucine. Taken together with other data, these results suggest that the isopropylmalate pathway is widespread among organisms that can synthesize leucine.     

Investigations on anti-Aspergillus properties of bacterial products

AIMS: To investigate the anti-Aspergillus properties of bacterial products. METHODS AND RESULTS: In the present study, 12 bacterial strains were screened for antifungal activity against Aspergilli. The culture supernatant and lysates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli (BL21, DH5alpha, HB101, XL Blue), Klebsiella pneumoniae, Streptomyces thermonitrificans, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Enterobacter aerogenes, Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella typhi were examined for antifungal activity in protein concentration ranging from 1000.0 to 7.8 microg ml-1 using microbroth dilution assay. The lysate of Salm. typhi and E. coli BL21 exhibited the maximum activity against Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus niger. Their in vitro minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were found to be 15.6-31.2 microg ml-1 by microbroth dilution and spore germination inhibition assays. In disc diffusion assay, a concentration of 3.1 microg disc-1 of Salm. typhi lysate showed significant activity against Aspergilli. Escherichia coli BL21 exhibited similar activity at 6.2 microg disc-1. The work on identification of molecule endowed with antimycotic properties is in progress. CONCLUSION: The products of Salm. typhi and E. coli demonstrated significant activity against Aspergillus species. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This is the first time that E. coli has been reported for anti-Aspergillus activity. It could be an important source of biologically active compounds useful for developing better new antifungal drugs/or probiotics.     

Fructose metabolism in four Pseudomonas species

1. ATP-Dependent phosphorylation of fructose could not be detected in extracts of fructose-grown cells of Pseudomonas extorquens strain 16, Pseudomonas 3A2, Pseudomonas acidovorans and Pseudomonas fluorescens. Instead, phosphorylation of fructose to fructose-1-phosphate was found to occur when cell-free extracts were incubated with fructose and phosphoenolpyruvate. Such an activity could not be detected in cell-free extracts of succinate-grown cells. 2. High levels of 1-phosphofructokinase were found in extracts of the above organisms when growth on fructose. 3. Mutants of Pseudomonas extorquens strain 16 lacking 1-phosphofructokinase were unable to grow on fructose. Revertants to growth on fructose had regained the capacity to synthesize this enzyme, indicating its necessary involvement in fructose metabolism. 4. A survey has been carried out of enzymes involved in carbohydrate metabolism in the species listed above.     

Molecular cloning and characterization of the gene coding for the aerobic azoreductase from Xenophilus azovorans KF46F

The gene coding for an aerobic azoreductase was cloned from Xenophilus azovorans KF46F (formerly Pseudomonas sp. strain KF46F), which was previously shown to grow with the carboxylated azo compound 1-(4'-carboxyphenylazo)-2-naphthol (carboxy-Orange II) as the sole source of carbon and energy. The deduced amino acid sequence encoded a protein with a molecular weight of 30,278 and showed no significant homology to amino acid sequences currently deposited at the relevant data bases. A presumed NAD(P)H-binding site was identified in the amino-terminal region of the azoreductase. The enzyme was heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli and the azoreductase activities of resting cells and cell extracts were compared. The results suggested that whole cells of the recombinant E. coli strains were unable to take up sulfonated azo dyes and therefore did not show in vivo azoreductase activity. The turnover of several industrially relevant azo dyes by cell extracts from the recombinant E. coli strain was demonstrated.