The methanol oxidation genes mxaFJGIR (S) ACKLD in Methylobacterium extorquens.

MxaJ is a protein of unknown function encoded by mxaJ in the mxaFJGI operon. We have constructed a mxaJ mutant of M. extorquens with a deletion which does not affect transcription of downstream genes. It contained cytochrome cL (MxaG), but neither subunit of methanol dehydrogenase (MxaF and MxaI). MxaJ is probably involved in processing this enzyme. We have sequenced the region between mxaFJGI and five other methanol oxidation genes, mxaACKLD; it includes one open reading frame (mxaR) and a possible second open reading frame (mxaS), demonstrating the presence in M. extorquens of the following gene cluster: mxaFJGIR(S) ACKLD.