T. Nakamura et al., CLONING AND SEQUENCE-ANALYSIS OF THE GENE FOR PHOSPHOENOLPYRUVATE CARBOXYLASE FROM AN EXTREME THERMOPHILE, THERMUS SP, Journal of Biochemistry, 118(2), 1995, pp. 319-324
The ppc gene, which encodes phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) of
an extreme thermophile, Thermus sp,, was cloned and sequenced. The ppc
gene had a high G + C content (69.2%). An open reading frame for a 85
7-amino-acid polypeptide was found in the gene. The calculated molecul
ar mass was 95,632, The amino acid sequence of Thermus PEPC was 31-37%
identical and 52-57% similar to those of 17 PEPCs from mesophilic org
anisms, No Cys residue was found in the polypeptide, demonstrating tha
t this residue is not essential for the catalytic activity of PEPC. Th
e cloned gene was expressed in Escherichia coli. and thermostable PEPC
was obtained.