Characterization of methylglyoxal synthase from Clostridium acetobutylicumATCC 824 and its use in the formation of 1,2-propanediol

A gene encoding a putative 150-amino-acid methylglyoxal synthase was identi fied in Clostridium acetobutylicum ATCC 824. The enzyme was overexpressed i n Escherichia coli and purified. Methylglyoxal synthase has a native molecu lar mass of 60 kDa and an optimum pH of 7.5. The K-m and V-max values for t he substrate dihydroxyacetone phosphate were 0.53 mM and 1.56 mmol min(-1) mu g respectively. When E. coli glycerol dehydrogenase was coexpressed with methylglyoxal synthase in E. coil BL21 (DE3), 3.9 mM 1,2-propanediol was p roduced.