Vitreoscilla hemoglobin. In vitro mutagenesis and transcript profiling to improve its biotechnological usefulness
Vitreoscilla is an obligate aerobic bacterium found in oxygen-poor environments such as stagnant ponds and decaying vegetable matter. Vitreoscilla induces the production of a homodimeric hemoglobin (VHb) when subjected to oxygen-limiting conditions. It is thought that VHb facilitates oxygen delivery to the respiratory apparatus of its host by increasing the local oxygen concentration under oxygen-