Molecular cloning and characterization of the trpC gene from Penicillium chrysogenum

We cloned the Penicillium chrysogenum trpC gene from a genomic library by complementation of an Escherichia coli trpC mutant lacking phosphoribosylanthranilate isomerase activity. The gene encodes a 2.7 kb poly(A)+ RNA. We localized the gene by sequence analysis in a 2.9 kb DNA insert found in the smallest plasmid selected from the library. Sequence data strongly suggest that the organization of the gene is similar to that described in other Ascomycetes. We found that a DNA fragment which codes only for the carboxy-terminal portion of the polypeptide is sufficient for complementation of the E. coli trpC9830 mutation.