Genes Encoding RubisCO in Pseudomonas Hydrogenothermophila Are Followed by a Novel CbbQ Gene Similar to NirQ of the Denitrification Gene Cluster from Pseudomonas Species

The cbbL and cbbS genes, encoding ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RubisCO), were cloned and sequenced from a thermophilic hydrogen-oxidizing bacterium, Pseudomonas hydrogenothermophila strain TH-1. The cbbL gene encoded a 474-amino-acid (aa) protein (53,285 Da); cbbS encoded a 124-aa protein (14,656 Da). An ORF found downstream from the cbbLS genes encoded a 267-aa protein (29,565 Da) which had no similarity to cbbX located downstream from cbbLS from Alcaligenes eutrophus and Xanthobacter flavus. This gene, called cbbQ, was highly similar to the nirQ gene of the denitrification gene cluster from P. aeruginosa and P. stutzeri.