Cloning of a Novel Dehalogenase from Environmental DNA

Cloning of pceA, the gene of tetrachloroethene (PCE)-reductive dehalogenase, was undertaken from environmental DNA. Two genes were amplified using PCR primer deduced from pceA. Functional expression of these genes was unsuccessful in Escherichia coli, but PceA1 synthesized in vitro was enzymatically active. In recombinant E. coli, PceA1 formed a complex with host DnaK and caused filamentous growth.