Cloning of a regulatory gene from Streptomyces cattleya and study on its cis-acting element

Primers were designed from the highly conserved protein regions of luxl, one of the two component regulatory genes in prokaryotic, and an about 180 bp DNA from Streptomyces cattleya was amplified by PCR. Using this fragment as a probe, Southern hybridization was accomplished with chromosome DNA of S. cattleya, leading to the cloning of the foreign DNA into pBluescript (SK-). DNA sequencing and frame analysis showed an intact ORF consisting of 1800 bp; the G+C composition was 69.3%. Upstream from the ORF was a 249 bp AT rich region, downstream of the ORF several complicated secondary structures were found. DNA-binding assay by gel retardation demonstrated the presence of a protein that specifically bound to the 249 bp AT rich region. The region also showed anomalous electrophoretic mobility at low temperature, like that of a bent DNA molecule, indicating that the region contains a cis-acting element.