Isolation and characterization of a fructosyl-amine oxidase from an <Emphasis Type="Italic">Arthrobacter </Emphasis>sp.

An Arthrobacter sp. was isolated that, when induced by fructosyl-valine, expressed a fructosyl-amine oxidase (FAOD) that was specific for -glycated amino acids. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of the purified oxidase was determined and used to design oligonucleotides to amplify the gene by inverse PCR. Expression of the gene in Escherichia coli produced 0.23 units FAOD per mg protein, over 30-fold greater than native expression levels, with properties almost indistinguishable from the native enzyme. The presence of FAOD was confirmed in other Arthrobacter ssp.Revisions requested 8 September 2004; Revisions received 4 November 2004