The hydA gene encoding the H-2-evolving hydrogenase of Clostridium perfringens: molecular characterization and expression of the gene

A putative hydrogenase (hydA) gene of Clostridium perfringens encodes a pro tein, with strong identity to Clostridium pasteurianum hydrogenase I. Disru ption of the hydA gene abolished H-2 productivity, confirming its function. A putative butyrate kinase gene (buk) is adjacent to the hydA gene. When c ultures were grown in medium with glucose, 1.8-kb hydA and 2.1-kb buk trans cripts and a 3.9-kb transcript hybridized with both hydA and buk-probe were detectable in all the exponential growth phases, In medium without glucose , these transcripts were decreased rapidly after the mid-exponential phase. These results suggest that the transcription of these two genes is probabl y regulated by a similar mechanism in response to glucose availability. (C) 1999 Federation of European Microbiological Societies. Published by Elsevi er Science B.V. All rights reserved.