Heterologous expression of bacterial Epoxyalkane:Coenzyme M transferase and inducible coenzyme M biosynthesis in Xanthobacter strain Py2 and Rhodococcus rhodochrous B276

Coenzyme M (CoM) (2-mercaptoethanesulfonic acid) biosynthesis is shown to be coordinately regulated with the expression of the enzymes of alkene and epoxide metabolism in the propylene-oxidizing bacteria Xanthobacter strain Py2 and Rhodococcus rhodochrous strain B276. These results provide the first evidence for the involvement of CoM in propylene metabolism by R. rhodochrous and demonstrate for the first time the inducible nature of eubacterial CoM biosynthesis.