NUCLEOTIDE-SEQUENCE OF THE GENE FOR MONOAMINE-OXIDASE (MAOA) FROM ESCHERICHIA-COLI

We found that the structural gene for monoamine oxidase was located at 30.9 min on the Escherichia coil chromosome. Deletion analysis showed that two amine oxidase genes are located in this region. The nucleoti de sequence of one of the two genes was determined. The peptide sequen ce of the first 40 amino acids from the N terminus of monoamine oxidas e purified from E. coli agrees with that deduced from the nucleotide s equence of the gene. The leader peptide extends over 30 amino acids. T he nucleotide sequence of the gene and amino acid sequence of the pred icted mature enzyme (M.W. 81,295) were highly homologous to those of t he maoA(K) gene and monoamine oxidase from Klebsiella aerogenes, respe ctively. From these results and analysis of the enzyme activity, we co ncluded that the gene encodes for monoamine oxidase (maoA(E)). The tyr osyl residue, which may be converted to topa quinone in the E. coil en zyme, was located by comparison with amino acid sequences at the cofac tor sites in other copper/topa quinone-containing amine oxidases.