The folic acid synthesis (Fas) protein of Pneumocystis carinii is a multifunctional enzyme containing dihydroneopterin aldolase, 6-hydroxymethyl-7,8-dihydropterin pyrophosphokinase (PPPK), and dihydropteroate synthase activities. Isolation of the stretch of fas cDNA shown by amino acid similarity to the bacterial counterparts to code for PPPK activity (fasC domain) is described. FasC was expressed to high levels in Escherichia coli inclusion bodies using an inducible tac promoter expression system. Solubilization of the inclusion bodies in 6 M guanidine hydrochloride and refolding of the recombinant protein yielded enzymatically active PPPK which was purified to homogeneity by anion-exchange and gel-filtration chromatography. Sequence analysis showed that the first 13 amino acids of the purified protein were in agreement with those predicted from the DNA sequence and, furthermore, that the amino-terminal methionine had been removed. The enzyme is active in the monomeric form, exhibiting maximum activity at around pH 8.0. Isoelectric focusing gave a pI of 9.1. The Km value for 6-hydroxymethyl-7,8-dihydropterin was 3.6 microM in 50 mM Tris buffer, pH 8.2. The production of independently folded, active P. carinii PPPK will allow detailed biochemical and structural studies, increasing our understanding of this enzyme domain.