AbstractHomoserine dehydrogenase (HSD) is a key enzyme in the synthesis pathway of the aspartate family of amino acids. HSD can catalyze the reversible reaction of L-aspartate-β-semialdehyde (L-ASA) to L-homoserine (L-Hse). In direct contrast, growth characteristic studies of some bacterial such as Arthrobacter nicotinovorans showed that the bacterium could grow well in medium with L-homoserine as sole carbon, nitrogen and energy source, but the genes responsible for the degradation of L-Hse remain unknown. Based on the function and sequence analysis of HSD, one putative homoserine dehydrogenase from A.nicotinovorans was named AnHSD, which was different from those HSDs that from the aspartic acid metabolic pathway, might be responsible for the degradation of L-Hse. Surprisingly, the analysis showed that the purified AnHSD exhibited specific L-Hse oxidation activity without reducing activity. At pH 10.0 and 40 °C, The Km and Kcat of AnHSD was 6.30 ± 1.03 mM and 462.71 s-1, respectively. AnHSD was partiality for NAD+ cofactor, as well as insensitive to feedback inhibition of downstream amino acids of aspartic acid family. The physiological role of AnHSD in A.nicotinovorans is discussed. These findings provide a novel insight for a better understanding of an alternative genetic pathway for L-Hse catabolism which was dominated by the novel HSD.ImportanceL-homoserine is an important building block for the synthesis of L-threonine, L-methionine, L-lysine which from aspartic acid family amino acids. However, some bacteria can make use of L-homoserine as a sole carbon and nitrogen source. Although the microbial degradation of L-homoserine has been studied several times, the genes involved and the molecular mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we show that AnHSD responsible for the catabolism of L-homoserine in strain Arthrobacter nicotinovorans, as a special homoserine dehydrogenase with high diversity exists in Arthrobacter, Microbacterium, Rhizobium. We report for the first time that this novel homoserine dehydrogenase is now proposed to play a crucial role in that L-homoserine can use as a sole carbon and nitrogen source. This study is aimed at elucidating the enzymatic properties and function features of homoserine dehydrogenase from Arthrobacter nicotinovorans. These findings provide new insight into the catabolism of L-homoserine in bacteria.
Nucleotide sequence of the Serratia marcescens threonine operon and analysis of the threonine operon mutations which alter feedback inhibition of both aspartokinase I and homoserine dehydrogenase I.