Thymidine kinase (tdk) is a critical enzyme in nucleotide metabolism, catalyzing the phosphorylation of thymidine to thymidine monophosphate (dTMP) via the salvage pathway. In Bacillus weihenstephanensis, a psychrotolerant member of the Bacillus cereus group, this enzyme plays roles in DNA synthesis and repair, particularly under stress conditions. Recombinant forms of this enzyme are engineered to study its biochemical properties, optimize industrial applications, or develop biotechnological tools .
The tdk gene in B. weihenstephanensis is part of a conserved genomic region shared with closely related species like B. cereus and B. anthracis. Key features include:
Recombinant tdk is typically expressed in Escherichia coli systems for high-yield production, leveraging vectors like pET or pQE with N-terminal His-tags for purification .
Substrate Specificity: Phosphorylates thymidine and select nucleoside analogs (e.g., azidothymidine) .
Kinetic Parameters:
Strain engineering strategies in Bacillus spp. often involve tdk deletion to block thymidine salvage pathways, forcing reliance on de novo synthesis. Recombinant tdk can restore this pathway or modulate metabolic flux .
Like other bacterial TKs, recombinant B. weihenstephanensis tdk can phosphorylate antiviral prodrugs (e.g., acyclovir), though this application remains exploratory .
| Parameter | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Yield | 10–15 mg/L culture | |
| Stability | Stable at -80°C in Tris-PBS + 6% trehalose | |
| Activity Retention | >80% after 6 months |
tdk expression correlates with acid resistance in B. weihenstephanensis, suggesting regulatory cross-talk between nucleotide metabolism and stress adaptation .
Transcriptional profiling identifies tdk as part of the lexA regulon, activated under DNA damage .
KEGG: bwe:BcerKBAB4_5128
STRING: 315730.BcerKBAB4_5128