Characterization of a cytochrome a1 that functions as a ubiquinol oxidase in Acetobacter aceti.

The terminal oxidase for ethanol oxidation in Acetobacter aceti was purified as a complex consisting of four subunits (subunits I, II, III, and IV) with molecular masses of 72, 34, 21, and 13 kDa, respectively. Spectrophotometric analysis and catalytic properties determined with the purified enzyme showed that it belonged to a family of cytochrome a1 (ba)-type ubiquinol oxidases. A polymerase chain reaction with two oligonucleotides designed for amino acid sequences that are conserved in subunit I of the aa3-type cytochrome c oxidases from various origins and of an Escherichia coli o (bo)-type ubiquinol oxidase was used for cloning the cytochrome a1 gene.

Homology in the structure and the prosthetic groups between two different terminal ubiquinol oxidases, cytochrome a1 and cytochrome o, of Acetobacter aceti.

Acetobacter aceti produces two different terminal oxidases dependent on the culture conditions, shaking and static cultures. Cells grown on shaking culture contain cytochrome a1, while cytochrome o is present in cells grown on static culture. Cytochrome a1 and cytochrome o of A.

Change of the terminal oxidase from cytochrome a1 in shaking cultures to cytochrome o in static cultures of Acetobacter aceti.

Acetobacter aceti has an ability to grow under two different culture conditions, on shaking submerged cultures and on static pellicle-forming cultures. The respiratory chains of A. aceti grown on shaking and static cultures were compared, especially with respect to the terminal oxidase.