Conservation of a pseudomonad-like hydrocarbon degradative ferredoxin oxygenase complex involved in rhizopine catabolism in Sinorhizobium meliloti and Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae.

In Sinorhizobium meliloti the mocCABR genes have previously been shown to be required for rhizopine (3-O-methyl-scyllo-inosamine, 3-O-MSI) catabolism. We show that the mocDE(F) gene cluster is also needed. MocDE(F), which is involved in the catabolism of 3-O-MSI to its demethylated form scyllo-inosamine (SI) has homology to components that would comprise a ferredoxin-oxygenase system. The mocCABRDE(F) suite of genes is required for 3-O-MSI catabolism in both S. meliloti and R. leguminosarum bv. viciae. However, SI catabolism in S. meliloti requires mocCABR, whereas only mocCA are required for its catabolism in R. leguminosarum suggesting the two species require different chromosomal genes which act in concert with moc genes for the catabolism of rhizopine.