RECOMBINANT PROCESS FOR THE PRODUCTION IN PSEUDOMONAS PUTIDA OF THE CYTOCHROME C 551 OF PSEUDOMONAS AERUGINOSA

The invention relates to a recombinant process for the production of a hemoprotein having the ability of transporting electrons and comprising the sequence of cytochrome C551 of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, characterized in that this hemoprotein is produced in Pseudomonas putida. The hemoprotein obtained through the process of the invention includes the natural form of cytochrome C551, as well as its precursors characterized by the presence of all or a portion, typically an N-terminal part, of a signal sequence. The hemoprotein object of the invention can be prepared in the following way: (a) providing a host, transformed with an expression vector comprising a DNA sequence which encodes the hemoprotein, in such conditions that said hemoprotein is expressed and (b) isolating or purifying said hemoprotein. Hence further objects of this invention also includes: an expression vector comprising a DNA sequence which encodes a hemoprotein of the invention; a host transformed with a suitable expression vector according to the invention; and a DNA molecule of natural or synthetic origin, comprising a sequence encoding the hemoprotein according to the present invention. A hemoprotein according to the invention finds useful applications in the diagnostic field, for example as chromogenic substrate for peroxidase or in electrochemical studies, in which it is used for the detection, measurement and control of the reactions of electronic transfer between oxidoreductive proteins and electrode.