Hexahistidine Fusion Protein Research Articles

The thioredoxin system from Streptomyces coelicolor

This paper describes the cloning, purification and characterization of thioredoxin (TrxA) and thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) from bacterial strain Streptomyces coelicolor . The genes of S. coelicolor encoding TrxA and TrxR were amplified by polymerase chain reaction, inserted into pET expression vector and used to overexpress these proteins in Escherichia coli . TrxA and TrxR were produced as the hexahistidine fusion proteins and were recovered from the cytoplasm as the soluble proteins. The activity of the purified recombinant proteins was demonstrated. The activity of TrxA was shown by efficient reduction of insulin and activity of NADPH-dependent TrxR was revealed by catalyses of 5,5'-dithiobis (2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB) reduction reaction. The reduction reaction was fully dependent upon the presence of TrxA as intermediate electron carrier with the pH optimum 7.5 and the temperature optimum 29 degrees C. Km value of TrxR for TrxA was 0.217 +/- 0.02 microM.

Crystal Structure of the Cytoplasmic Domain of the Chloride Channel ClC-0

Ion channels are frequently organized in a modular fashion and consist of a membrane-embedded pore domain and a soluble regulatory domain. A similar organization is found for the ClC family of Cl- channels and transporters. Here, we describe the crystal structure of the cytoplasmic domain of ClC-0, the voltage-dependent Cl- channel from T. marmorata. The structure contains a folded core of two tightly interacting cystathionine beta-synthetase (CBS) subdomains. The two subdomains are connected by a 96 residue mobile linker that is disordered in the crystals. As revealed by analytical ultracentrifugation, the domains form dimers, thereby most likely extending the 2-fold symmetry of the transmembrane pore. The structure provides insight into the organization of the cytoplasmic domains within the ClC family and establishes a framework for guiding future investigations on regulatory mechanisms.

Synthesis of an Artificial Cell Surface Receptor that Enables Oligohistidine Affinity Tags to Function as Metal-Dependent Cell-Penetrating Peptides

Cell-penetrating peptides and proteins (CPPs) are important tools for the delivery of impermeable molecules into living mammalian cells. To enable these cells to internalize proteins fused to common oligohistidine affinity tags, we synthesized an artificial cell surface receptor comprising an N-alkyl derivative of 3beta-cholesterylamine linked to the metal chelator nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA). This synthetic receptor inserts into cellular plasma membranes, projects NTA headgroups from the cell surface, and rapidly cycles between the plasma membrane and intracellular endosomes. Jurkat lymphocytes treated with the synthetic receptor (10 microM) for 1 h displayed approximately 8,400,000 [corrected]NTA groups on the cell surface. Subsequent addition of the green fluorescent protein AcGFP fused to hexahistidine or decahistidine peptides (3 microM) and Ni(OAc)(2) (100 microM) enhanced the endocytosis of AcGFP by 150-fold (hexahistidine fusion protein) or 600-fold (decahistidine fusion protein) within 4 h at 37 degrees C. No adverse effects on cellular proliferation or morphology were observed under these conditions. By enabling common oligohistidine affinity tags to function as cell-penetrating peptides, this metal-chelating cell surface receptor provides a useful tool for studies of cellular biology [corrected]

Molecular and Biochemical Characterization of the xlnD -Encoded 3-Hydroxybenzoate 6-Hydroxylase Involved in the Degradation of 2,5-Xylenol via the Gentisate Pathway in Pseudomonas alcaligenes NCIMB 9867

The xlnD gene from Pseudomonas alcaligenes NCIMB 9867 (strain P25X) was shown to encode 3-hydroxybenzoate 6-hydroxylase I, the enzyme that catalyzes the NADH-dependent conversion of 3-hydroxybenzoate to gentisate. Active recombinant XlnD was purified as a hexahistidine fusion protein from Escherichia coli, had an estimated molecular mass of 130 kDa, and is probably a trimeric protein with a subunit mass of 43 kDa. This is in contrast to the monomeric nature of the few 3-hydroxybenzoate 6-hydroxylases that have been characterized thus far. Like other 3-hydroxybenzoate 6-hydroxylases, XlnD could utilize either NADH or NADPH as the electron donor. P25X harbors a second 3-hydroxybenzoate 6-hydroxylase II that was strictly inducible by specific aromatic substrates. However, the degradation of 2,5-xylenol and 3,5-xylenol in strain P25X was found to be dependent on the xlnD-encoded 6-hydroxylase I and not the second, strictly inducible 6-hydroxylase II.

Salicylate Biosynthesis: Overexpression, Purification, and Characterization of Irp9, a Bifunctional Salicylate Synthase fromYersinia enterocolitica

In some bacteria, salicylate is synthesized using the enzymes isochorismate synthase and isochorismate pyruvate lyase. In contrast, gene inactivation and complementation experiments with Yersinia enterocolitica suggest the synthesis of salicylate in the biosynthesis of the siderophore yersiniabactin involves a single protein, Irp9, which converts chorismate directly into salicylate. In the present study, Irp9 was for the first time heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli as a hexahistidine fusion protein, purified to near homogeneity, and characterized biochemically. The recombinant protein was found to be a dimer, each subunit of which has a molecular mass of 50 kDa. Enzyme assays, reverse-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography and 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopic analyses confirmed that Irp9 is a salicylate synthase and converts chorismate to salicylate with a K(m) for chorismate of 4.2 microM and a k(cat) of 8 min(-1). The reaction was shown to proceed through the intermediate isochorismate, which was detected directly using 1H NMR spectroscopy.

Phospho-N-acetyl-muramyl-pentapeptide translocase from Escherichia coli: catalytic role of conserved aspartic acid residues.

Phospho-N-acetyl-muramyl-pentapeptide translocase (translocase 1) catalyzes the first of a sequence of lipid-linked steps that ultimately assemble the peptidoglycan layer of the bacterial cell wall. This essential enzyme is the target of several natural product antibiotics and has recently been the focus of antimicrobial drug discovery programs. The catalytic mechanism of translocase 1 is believed to proceed via a covalent intermediate formed between phospho-N-acetyl-muramyl-pentapeptide and a nucleophilic amino acid residue. Amino acid sequence alignments of the translocase 1 family and members of the related transmembrane phosphosugar transferase superfamily revealed only three conserved residues that possess nucleophilic side chains: the aspartic acid residues D115, D116, and D267. Here we report the expression and partial purification of Escherichia coli translocase 1 as a C-terminal hexahistidine (C-His6) fusion protein. Three enzymes with the site-directed mutations D115N, D116N, and D267N were constructed, expressed, and purified as C-His6 fusions. Enzymatic analysis established that all three mutations eliminated translocase 1 activity, and this finding verified the essential role of these residues. By analogy with the structural environment of the double aspartate motif found in prenyl transferases, we propose a model whereby D115 and D116 chelate a magnesium ion that coordinates with the pyrophosphate bridge of the UDP-N-acetyl-muramyl-pentapeptide substrate and in which D267 therefore fulfills the role of the translocase 1 active-site nucleophile.

Identification of a topoisomerase IV in actinobacteria: purification and characterization of ParYR and GyrBR from the coumermycin A1 producer Streptomyces rishiriensis DSM 40489.

The biosynthetic gene clusters of the gyrase inhibitors coumermycin A(1) and clorobiocin contain two different resistance genes (gyrB(R) and parY(R)). Both genes code for B subunits of type II topoisomerases. The authors have now overexpressed and purified the encoded proteins, as well as the corresponding A subunits GyrA and ParX. Expression was carried out in Streptomyces lividans in the form of hexahistidine fusion proteins, allowing purification by nickel affinity chromatography. The complex of GyrA and GyrB(R) was found to catalyse ATP-dependent supercoiling of DNA, i.e. to function as a gyrase, whereas the complex of ParX and ParY(R) catalysed ATP-dependent decatenation and relaxation, i.e. the functions of topoisomerase IV (topo IV). This is believed to represent the first topo IV identified in the class of actinobacteria, and the first demonstration of the formation of a topo IV as a resistance mechanism of an antibiotic producer.

An unusual amide synthetase (CouL) from the coumermycin A1 biosynthetic gene cluster from Streptomyces rishiriensis DSM 40489.

The aminocoumarin antibiotic coumermycin A1 produced by Streptomyces rishiriensis DSM 40489 contains two amide bonds. The biosynthetic gene cluster of coumermycin contains a putative amide synthetase gene, couL, encoding a protein of 529 amino acids. CouL was overexpressed as hexahistidine fusion protein in Escherichia coli and purified by metal affinity chromatography, resulting in a nearly homogenous protein. CouL catalysed the formation of both amide bonds of coumermycin A1, i.e. between the central 3-methylpyrrole-2,4-dicarboxylic acid and two aminocoumarin moieties. Gel exclusion chromatography showed that the enzyme is active as a monomer. The activity was strictly dependent on the presence of ATP and Mn2+ or Mg2+. The apparent Km values were determined as 26 micro m for the 3-methylpyrrole-2,4-dicarboxylic acid and 44 micro m for the aminocoumarin moiety, respectively. Several analogues of the pyrrole dicarboxylic acid were accepted as substrates. In contrast, pyridine carboxylic acids were not accepted. 3-Dimethylallyl-4-hydroxybenzoic acid, the acyl component in novobiocin biosynthesis, was well accepted, despite its structural difference from the genuine acyl substrate of CouL.

DapE can function as an aspartyl peptidase in the presence of Mn2+.

Extracts of a multiply peptidase-deficient (pepNABDPQTE iadA iaaA) Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium strain contain an aspartyl dipeptidase activity that is dependent on Mn(2+). Purification of this activity followed by N-terminal sequencing of the protein suggested that the Mn(2+)-dependent peptidase is DapE (N-succinyl-L,L-diaminopimelate desuccinylase). A dapE chromosomal disruption was constructed and transduced into a multiply peptidase-deficient (MPD) strain. Crude extracts of this strain showed no aspartyl peptidase activity, and the strain failed to utilize Asp-Leu as a leucine source. The dapE gene was cloned into expression vectors in order to overproduce either the native protein (DapE) or a hexahistidine fusion protein (DapE-His(6)). Extracts of a strain carrying the plasmid overexpresssing native DapE in the MPD dapE background showed a 3,200-fold elevation of Mn(2+)-dependent aspartyl peptidase activity relative to the MPD dapE(+) strain. In addition, purified DapE-His(6) exhibited Mn(2+)-dependent peptidase activity toward aspartyl dipeptides. Growth of the MPD strain carrying a single genomic copy of dapE on Asp-Leu as a Leu source was slow but detectable. Overproduction of DapE in the MPD dapE strain allowed growth on Asp-Leu at a much faster rate. DapE was found to be specific for N-terminal aspartyl dipeptides: no N-terminal Glu, Met, or Leu peptides were hydrolyzed, nor were any peptides containing more than two amino acids. DapE is known to bind two divalent cations: one with high affinity and the other with lower affinity. Our data indicate that the form of DapE active as a peptidase contains Zn(2+) in the high-affinity site and Mn(2+) in the low-affinity site.

Proteolytic cleavage of the puromycin-sensitive aminopeptidase generates a substrate binding domain

The puromycin-sensitive aminopeptidase was found to be resistant to proteolysis by trypsin, chymotrypsin, and protease V8 but was cleaved into an N-terminal 60-kDa fragment and a C-terminal 33-kDa fragment by proteinase K. The two proteinase K fragments remain associated and retained enzymatic activity. Attempts to express the 60-kDa N-terminal fragment in Escherichia coli produced inclusion bodies. A hexa-histidine fusion protein of the 60-kDa N-terminal fragment was solubilized from inclusion bodies with urea and refolded by removal of the urea through dialysis. The refolded protein was devoid of aminopeptidase activity as assayed with arginine–β-naphthylamide. However, the refolded protein bound the substrate dynorphin A(1-9) with a stoichiometry of 0.5 mol/mol and a K 0.5 value of 50 μM. Dynorphin A(1-9) binding was competitively inhibited by the substrate dynorphin B(1-9), but not by des-Tyr 1-leucine-enkephalin, a poor substrate for the enzyme.

Construction and evaluation of a plasmid vector for the expression of recombinant lipoproteins in Escherichia coli

Outer membrane lipoproteins are emerging as key targets for protective immunity to many bacterial pathogens. Heterologous expression of lipoproteins in Escherichia coli does not always result in high level expression of acylated recombinant protein. Thus, these proteins do not take up their correct membrane topology and are lacking the immunostimulatory properties endowed by the lipid. To this end, we have designed a lipoprotein expression vector (pDUMP) that results in the production of fusion proteins containing the E. coli major outer membrane lipoprotein (Lpp) signal sequence, lipoprotein signal peptidase recognition site, and the +2 outer membrane sorting signal at their N termini. To test the ability of pDUMP to express lipoproteins from heterologous hosts, the surface lipoprotein PsaA from the Gram-positive organism Streptococcus pneumoniae and the outer membrane lipoproteins MlpA from the Gram-negative Pasteurella multocida and BlpA from the spirochete Brachyspira hyodysenteriae were cloned into both hexahistidine fusion vectors and pDUMP. High level expression of antigenically active protein from both the hexahistidine fusion vectors and pDUMP resulted in abundant bands of the predicted molecular masses when analyzed by SDS–PAGE. When grown in the presence of 3[H]palmitic acid, proteins encoded by pDUMP were observed to incorporate palmitic acid whilst the hexahistidine fusion proteins did not. Using mass spectrometry and image analysis we determined the efficiency of lipidation between the three clones to vary from 31.7 to 100%. In addition, lipidated, but not hexahistidine, forms of the proteins were presented on the E. coli surface.

CLONING, SEQUENCING AND EXPRESSION OF PORCINE CD40 LIGAND IN ESCHERICHIA COLI AND HUMAN AND PORCINE CELLS

The CD40L ligand (CD40L) plays an important role in the interaction between antigen-specific T lymphocytes and antigen-presenting cells. The porcine CD40L encoding gene was isolated from porcine peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) using RT-PCR. Sequence analysis of the cloned CD40L gene showed an open reading frame of 786 base pairs encoding a 262 amino acid protein with a predicted molecular mass of 29 kD. The deduced amino acid sequence of the porcine CD40L shared 82%, 88% and 93% similarity with the CD40L protein of mouse, human and cattle. The isolated CD40L sequence was expressed as a hexahistidine fusion protein in Escherichia coli and purified by affinity chromatography. The analysis of the CD40L-expression in human 293 and porcine MAX cells by immunofluorescence showed its location on the cell surface.

X‐ray structure of Saccharomyces cerevisiae homologous mitochondrial matrix factor 1 (Hmf1)

X‐ray structure of <i>Saccharomyces cerevisiae</i> homologous mitochondrial matrix factor 1 (Hmf1)

A deoxyinosine specific endonuclease from hyperthermophile, Archaeoglobusfulgidus: a homolog of Escherichia coli endonuclease V

Deoxyadenosine undergoes spontaneous deamination to deoxyinosine in DNA. Based on amino acids sequence homology, putative homologs of endonuclease V were identified in several organisms including archaebacteria, eubacteria as well as eukaryotes. The translated amino acid sequence of the Archaeoglobus fulgidus nfi gene shows 39% identity and 55% similarity to the E. coli nfi gene. A.fulgidus endonuclease V was cloned and expressed in E. coli as a C-terminal hexa–histidine fusion protein. The C-terminal fusion protein was purified to apparent homogeneity by a combination of Ni++ affinity and MonoS cation exchange liquid chromatography. The purified C-terminal fusion protein has a molecular weight of about 25kDa and showed endonuclease activity towards DNA containing deoxyinosine. A. fulgidus endonuclease V has an absolute requirement for Mg2+ and an optimum reaction temperature at 85°C. However, in contrast to E. coli endonuclease V, which has a wide substrate spectrum, endonuclease V from A. fulgidus recognized only deoxyinosine. These data suggest that the deoxyinosine cleavage activity is a primordial activity of endonuclease V and that multiple enzymatic activities of E. coli endonuclease V were acquired later during evolution.

Benzoylformate decarboxylase from Pseudomonas putida as stable catalyst for the synthesis of chiral 2-hydroxy ketones.

The thiamin diphosphate- and Mg2+-dependent enzyme benzoylformate decarboxylase (BFD) from Pseudomonas putida was characterized with respect to its suitability to catalyze the formation of chiral 2-hydroxy ketones in a benzoin-condensation type reaction. Carboligation constitutes a side reaction of BFD, whereas the predominant physiological task of the enzyme is the non-oxidative decarboxylation of benzoylformate. For this purpose the enzyme was obtained in sufficient purity from Pseudomonas putida cells in a one-step purification using anion-exchange chromatography. To facilitate the access to pure BFD for kinetical studies, stability investigations, and synthetical applications, the coding gene was cloned into a vector allowing the expression of a hexahistidine fusion protein. The recombinant enzyme shows distinct activity maxima for the decarboxylation and the carboligation beside a pronounced stability in a broad pH and temperature range. The enzyme accepts a wide range of donor aldehyde substrates which are ligated to acetaldehyde as an acceptor in mostly high optical purities. The enantioselectivity of the carboligation was found to be a function of the reaction temperature, the substitution pattern of the donor aldehyde and, most significantly, of the concentration of the donor aldehyde substrate. Our data are consistent with a mechanistical model based on the X-ray crystallographic data of BFD. Furthermore we present a simple way to increase the enantiomeric excess of (S)-2-hydroxy-1-phenyl-propanone from 90% to 95% by skillful choice of the reaction parameters. Enzymatic synthesis with BFD are performed best in a continuously operated enzyme membrane reactor. Thus, we have established a new enzyme tool comprising a vast applicability for stereoselective synthesis.

Characterization of a Pseudomonas aeruginosa fatty acid biosynthetic gene cluster: purification of acyl carrier protein (ACP) and malonyl-coenzyme A:ACP transacylase (FabD).

A DNA fragment containing the Pseudomonas aeruginosa fabD (encoding malonyl-coenzyme A [CoA]:acyl carrier protein [ACP] transacylase), fabG (encoding beta-ketoacyl-ACP reductase), acpP (encoding ACP), and fabF (encoding beta-ketoacyl-ACP synthase II) genes was cloned and sequenced. This fab gene cluster is delimited by the plsX (encoding a poorly understood enzyme of phospholipid metabolism) and pabC (encoding 4-amino-4-deoxychorismate lyase) genes; the fabF and pabC genes seem to be translationally coupled. The fabH gene (encoding beta-ketoacyl-ACP synthase III), which in most gram-negative bacteria is located between plsX and fabD, is absent from this gene cluster. A chromosomal temperature-sensitive fabD mutant was obtained by site-directed mutagenesis that resulted in a W258Q change. A chromosomal fabF insertion mutant was generated, and the resulting mutant strain contained substantially reduced levels of cis-vaccenic acid. Multiple attempts aimed at disruption of the chromosomal fabG gene were unsuccessful. We purified FabD as a hexahistidine fusion protein (H6-FabD) and ACP in its native form via an ACP-intein-chitin binding domain fusion protein, using a novel expression and purification scheme that should be applicable to ACP from other bacteria. Matrix-assisted laser desorption-ionization spectroscopy, native polyacrylamide electrophoresis, and amino-terminal sequencing revealed that (i) most of the purified ACP was properly modified with its 4'-phosphopantetheine functional group, (ii) it was not acylated, and (iii) the amino-terminal methionine was removed. In an in vitro system, purified ACP functioned as acyl acceptor and H(6)-FabD exhibited malonyl-CoA:ACP transacylase activity.

CDNA cloning, expression and activity of a second human aflatoxin B1-metabolizing member of the aldo-keto reductase superfamily, AKR7A3.

The aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) aldehyde metabolite of AFB1 may contribute to the cytotoxicity of this hepatocarcinogen via protein adduction. Aflatoxin B1 aldehyde reductases, specifically the NADPH-dependent aldo-keto reductases of rat (AKR7A1) and human (AKR7A2), are known to metabolize the AFB1 dihydrodiol by forming AFB1 dialcohol. Using a rat AKR7A1 cDNA, we isolated and characterized a distinct aldo-keto reductase (AKR7A3) from an adult human liver cDNA library. The deduced amino acid sequence of AKR7A3 shares 80 and 88% identity with rat AKR7A1 and human AKR7A2, respectively. Recombinant rat AKR7A1 and human AKR7A3 were expressed and purified from Escherichia coli as hexa-histidine tagged fusion proteins. These proteins catalyzed the reduction of several model carbonyl-containing substrates. The NADPH-dependent formation of AFB1 dialcohol by recombinant human AKR7A3 was confirmed by liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. Rabbit polyclonal antibodies produced using recombinant rat AKR7A1 protein were shown to detect nanogram amounts of rat and human AKR7A protein. The amount of AKR7A-related protein in hepatic cytosols of 1, 2-dithiole-3-thione-treated rats was 18-fold greater than in cytosols from untreated animals. These antibodies detected AKR7A-related protein in normal human liver samples ranging from 0.3 to 0.8 microg/mg cytosolic protein. Northern blot analysis showed varying levels of expression of AKR7A RNA in human liver and in several extrahepatic tissues, with relatively high levels in the stomach, pancreas, kidney and liver. Based on the kinetic parameters determined using recombinant human AKR7A3 and AFB1 dihydrodiol at pH 7.4, the catalytic efficiency of this reaction (k2/K, per M/s) equals or exceeds those reported for other enzymes, for example cytochrome P450s and glutathione S-transferases, known to metabolize AFB1 in vivo. These findings indicate that, depending on the extent of AFB1 dihydrodiol formation, AKR7A may contribute to the protection against AFB1-induced hepatotoxicity.

Cloning and expression of ( R)-hydroxynitrile lyase from Linum usitatissimum (flax)

The gene encoding for ( R)-hydroxynitrile lyase (( R)-HNL) from Linum usitatissimum has been cloned by polymerase chain reaction using 3′,5′-RACE (rapid amplification of cDNA ends). The resulting clone contained an open reading frame of 1266 bp corresponding to a protein of 422 amino acids (45.8 kDa), which shows significant homologies to zinc-dependent formaldehyde dehydrogenases and alcohol dehydrogenases from various organisms. The dimeric active enzyme was expressed in Escherichia coli as N-terminal hexa-histidine fusion protein allowing the purification of homogeneous protein in one step. The formation of inclusion bodies could be reduced using a thioreductase deficient E. coli strain as a host and performing expression of ( R)-HNL at 28°C. Under these conditions recombinant ( R)-HNL was obtained with a specific activity of 76 U/mg.

Vaccine candidate MSP-1 from Plasmodium falciparum: a redesigned 4917 bp polynucleotide enables synthesis and isolation of full-length protein from Escherichia coli and mammalian cells

The Plasmodium falciparum malaria parasite is the causative agent of malaria tropica. Merozoites, one of the extracellular developmental stages of this parasite, expose at their surface the merozoite surface protein-1 complex (MSP-1), which results from the proteolytic processing of a 190-200 kDa precursor. MSP-1 is highly immunogenic in humans and numerous studies suggest that this protein is an effective target for a protective immune response. Although its function is unknown, there are indications that it may play a role during invasion of erythrocytes by merozoites. The parasite-derived msp-1 gene, which is approximately 5000 bp long, contains 74% AT. This high AT content has prevented stable cloning of the full-size gene in Escherichia coli and consequently its expression in heterologous systems. Here, we describe the synthesis of a 4917 bp gene encoding MSP-1 from the FCB-1 strain of P. falciparum adjusted for human codon preferences. The synthetic msp-1 gene (55% AT) was cloned, maintained and expressed in its entirety in E.coli as well as in CHO and HeLa cells. The purified protein is soluble and appears to possess native conformation because it reacts with a panel of mAbs specific for conformational epitopes. The strategy we used for synthesizing the full-length msp-1 gene was toassemble it from DNA fragments encoding all of the major proteolytic fragments normally generated at the parasite's surface. Thus, after subcloning we also obtained each of these MSP-1 processing products as hexahistidine fusion proteins in E.coli and isolated them by affinity chromatography on Ni2+agarose. The availability of defined preparations of MSP-1 and its major processing products open up new possibilities for in-depth studies at the structural and functional level of this important protein, including the exploration of MSP-1-based experimental vaccines.

Stoichiometry and specificity of in vitro phosphopantetheinylation and aminoacylation of the valine-activating module of surfactin synthetase.

Surfactin synthetase is the enzyme responsible for biosynthesis of the lipoheptapeptide antibiotic surfactin by Bacillus subtilis. Fragments of SrfB1, the L-valine-activating module of the second subunit of surfactin synthetase, were overproduced in Escherichia coli. In addition to a 143-kDa SrfB1 fragment that contains four domains putatively involved in activation (adenylation domain), autoaminoacylation (peptidyl carrier protein (PCP) domain), and peptide bond formation (two condensation domains), subfragments comprising two domains (104-kDa condensation-adenylation and 73-kDa adenylation-PCP), and one domain (18-kDa PCP) were also overproduced in and purified from E. coli as N-terminal hexahistidine fusion proteins. Incubation of these domains with pure Sfp, a phosphopantetheinyl transferase (PPTase) from B. subtilis, and CoA allowed quantitation of posttranslational phosphopantetheinylation of Ser999 by mass spectrometry for the 18-kDa PCP fragment and by radioassay using cosubstrate [3H] pantetheinyl-coenzyme A for all PCP-containing constructs. The phosphopantetheine stoichiometry correlated with the subsequent mole fractions of [14C] valyl groups that could be covalently transferred to these holo-PCP domains. In turn, the catalytic efficiency of intramolecular aminoacylation of the 143-kDa fragment could be compared with the reaction "in trans" between adenylation and PCP fragments of SrfB1. The corresponding holo-PCP domain of the next module, SrfB2, was not detectably aminoacylated by SrfB1, indicative of protein-protein recognition between adenylation and cognate PCP domains. These results should permit future exploration of the timing and specificity of peptide bond formation by this class of biosynthetic enzymes.