Chaperone protection of immature molybdoenzyme during molybdenum cofactor limitation

Abstract

Maturation of molybdoenzyme TorA involves chaperone TorD. This study shows that TorD is also required to protect apoTorA against proteolysis when the molybdenum cofactor is limiting in Escherichia coli. The absence of TorD leads to a complete loss of apoTorA during molybdenum cofactor deficiency whereas the presence of TorD maintains a significant amount of apoTorA that can be matured when the molybdenum cofactor becomes available. © 2006 Federation of European Microbiological Societies.