Biotin synthase: purification, characterization as a [2Fe-2S]cluster protein, and in vitro activity of the Escherichia coli bioB gene product.

We report here the first purification of the protein encoded by the Escherichia coli bioB gene. One species of this protein runs on native gels with an electrophoretic mobility typical of a protein with m = 82 kDa, suggesting the protein is a dimer (gene sequence predicts m = 38.7 kDa). There are two iron- and two acid-labile sulfur atoms per protein monomer. Solutions containing the protein are red and have an absorbance spectrum characteristic of proteins with [2Fe-2S] clusters. In its oxidized native state, the protein is EPR-silent. Upon addition of dithionite, the protein's UV-visible absorbance spectrum is very slowly bleached, and an EPR active species is produced that displays a signal at g avg =1.95