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The Thiamine Kinase (YcfN) Enzyme Plays a Minor but Significant Role in Cobinamide Salvaging in Salmonella enterica

Michele M. Otte, Jesse D. Woodson, and Jorge C. Escalante-Semerena^*

Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin—Madison, 144A Enzyme Institute, 1710 University Avenue, Madison, Wisconsin 53726-4087

Received 25 May 2007/ Accepted 4 August 2007

Cobinamide (Cbi) salvaging is impaired, but not abolished, in a Salmonella enterica strain lacking a functional cobU gene. CobU is a bifunctional enzyme (NTP:adenosylcobinamide [NTP:AdoCbi] kinase, GTP:adenosylcobinamide-phosphate [GTP:AdoCbi-P] guanylyltransferase) whose AdoCbi kinase activity is necessary for Cbi salvaging in this bacterium. Inactivation of the ycfN gene in a cobU strain abrogated Cbi salvaging. Introduction of a plasmid carrying the ycfN⁺ allele into a cobU ycfN strain substantially restored Cbi salvaging. Mass spectrometry data indicate that when YcfN-enriched cell extracts were incubated with AdoCbi and ATP, the product of the reaction was AdoCbi-P. Results from bioassays confirmed that YcfN converted AdoCbi to AdoCbi-P in an ATP-dependent manner. YcfN is a good example of enzymes that are used by the cell in multiple pathways to ensure the salvaging of valuable precursors.

Published ahead of print on 10 August 2007.

Present address: The Salk Institute Plant Biology Laboratory, La Jolla, CA 92037.

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