Deletion of flavoredoxin gene in Desulfovibrio gigas reveals its participation in thiosulfate reduction

The gene encoding Desulfovibrio gigas flavoredoxin was deleted to elucidate its physiological role in the sulfate metabolism. Disruption of flr gene strongly inhibited the reduction of thiosulfate and exhibited a reduced growth in the presence of sulfite with lactate as electron donor. The growth with sulfate was not however affected by the lack of this protein. Additionally, flr mutant cells revealed a decrease of about 50% in the H2 consumption rate using thiosulfate as electron acceptor. Altogether, our results show in vivo that during sulfite respiration, trithionate and thiosulfate are produced and that flavoredoxin is specific for thiosulfate reduction.