Piezoresponse of the cyo-operon coding for quinol oxidase subunits in a deep-sea piezophilic bacterium, Shewanella violacea

We have isolated the genes for quinol oxidase from a deep-sea piezophilic b acterium, Shewanella violacea. Analysis of the deduced amino acid sequences of the cyo subunits showed that this oxidase has high similarity to Escher ichia coil bo-type quinol oxidase, Northern blot analysis showed that these genes are expressed at a high level R hen the bacterium is grown at elevat ed pressure, Upstream in the cyo-operon, a sigma (54)-binding motif and an octamer sequence unit were found, suggesting that these elements may play a role in regulation of expression of the cyo-operon in response to changes in pressure.