Nucleotide sequence and expression of a plasmid-encoded chromate resistance determinant from Alcaligenes eutrophus

The nucleotide sequence of the 2.6-kilobase pair (kb) EcoRI fragment encoding chromate resistance (Chrr) on plasmid pMOL28 in Alcaligenes eutrophus was determined. Three open reading frames were assigned to three polypeptides which were expressed from this determinant in Escherichia coli under the control of a phage T7 transcription promoter. When the roles of the polypeptides and open reading frames were analyzed with deletion derivatives of the 2.6-kilobase fragment, the membrane-bound ChrA (401 amino acids) and ChrB (196 amino acids) polypeptides were essential for inducible chromate resistance and reduced accumulation of chromate, while the third open reading frame was not needed.