Detection and characterisation of the genes encoding glyoxalase I and II from Neisseria meningitidis

Glyoxalase enzymes I and II are involved in a detoxification process consisting of conversion of reactive dicarbonyl compounds (e.g., methylglyoxal) to less reactive hydroxy acids. The structural gene for meningococcal glyoxalase I (gloA) was identified by screening an expression library with a rabbit antiserum. The meningococcal gloA gene consisted of 138 deduced amino acids, with a calculated mol. wt of 15.7 kDa. The DNA and deduced protein sequence of gloA was compared to known sequences of glyoxalase I enzymes and showed high homology with gloA of several eukaryotic and prokaryotic species. Insertion of a gloA-containing plasmid in Escherichia coli increased the host organism's tolerance to methylglyoxal from <2 mM to >4 mM, thus demonstrating its functional identity. A databank search also revealed the presence of a putative gloB gene, encoding glyoxalase II (GlxII), in the recently released genomic sequences of Neisseria meningitidis and N. gonorrhoeae.