Expression and characteristics of the gene encoding azoreductase from Rhodobacter sphaeroides AS1.1737.

A gene that encodes a protein with azoreductase activity was obtained by PCR amplification from Rhodobacter sphaeroides AS1.1737. The enzyme, with a molecular weight of 18.7 kD, was heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli and its azoreductase activity was characterized. Furthermore, the reduction mechanism of azo dyes catalyzed by the azoreductase was studied in detail. The presence of a hydrazo-intermediate was identified, which provided a convincing evidence for the assumption that azo dyes were degraded via an incomplete reduction stage.