Cloning and identification of a new repressor of 3,17 beta-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase of Comamonas testosteroni

Background 3,17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3,17 beta-HSD) is a key enzyme in the metabolic pathway for steroid compounds catabolism in Comamonas testosteroni. Tetracycline repressor (TetR) family, repressors existing in most microorganisms, may play key roles in regulating the expression of 3,17 beta-HSD. Previous reports showed that three tetR genes are located in the contig58 of C. testosteroni ATCC 11996 (GenBank: AHIL01000049.1), among which the first tetR gene encoded a potential repressor of 3,17 beta-HSD by sensing environmental signals. However, whether the other proposed tetR genes act as repressors of 3,17 beta-HSD are still unknown. Methods and Results In the present study, we cloned the second tetR gene and analyzed the regulatory mechanism of the protein on 3,17 beta-HSD using electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA), gold nanoparticles (AuNPs)-based assay, and loss-of-function analysis. The results showed that the second tetR gene was 660-bp, encoding a 26 kD protein, which could regulate the expression of 3,17 beta-HSD gene via binding to the conserved consensus sequences located 1100-bp upstream of the 3,17 beta-HSD gene. Furthermore, the mutant strain of C. testosteroni with the second tetR gene knocked-out mutant expresses good biological genetic stability, and the expression of 3,17 beta-HSD in the mutant strain is slightly higher than that in the wild type under testosterone induction. Conclusions The second tetR gene acts as a negative regulator in 3,17 beta-HSD expression, and the mutant has potential application in bioremediation of steroids contaminated environment.

Automated summary

The second tetR gene acts as a negative regulator in the expression of 3,17 beta-HSD, and the mutant strain of C. testosteroni with the second tetR gene knocked-out exhibits slightly higher expression of 3,17 beta-HSD compared to the wild type under testosterone induction, suggesting potential application in bioremediation of steroids contaminated environment.