A mutation (CTG to TTG) of FeSOD gene was found in Escherichia coli. Since they both encode leucine, it is a silent mutation. Site-‐directed mutagenesis was applied to correct the mutation, and the mutant FeSOD (before gene correction) and wild type FeSOD (after gene correction) were purified. The FeSODs from the two genes were Characterized using different assays and spectroscopic methods including EPR and CD. The requirement for the rare codon TTG may result in slowed translation and heavy demand on a scarce tRNA. Cultures expressing wild type FeSOD are better able to grow for long times after addition of IPTG and more mature to incorporate Fe atoms to the active sites than are cultures expressing the mutant gene. Moreover, the wild type FeSOD has more activity than the mutant. To our knowledge, this is the first time that a silent mutation has been demonstrated to affect metal incorporation into a metalloenzyme
