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A Bacillus subtilis large ORF coding for a polypeptide highly similar to polyketide synthases
C Scotti1, M Piatti, A Cuzzoni
1Dipartimento di Genetica e Microbiologia, Università di Pavia, Italy.
Gene
|August 16, 1993
Summary
The Bacillus subtilis outG locus, renamed pksX, encodes a large protein potentially involved in polyketide synthesis. This gene is not essential for bacterial survival.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Molecular Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- The outG locus in Bacillus subtilis is located between the nrdA and polC genetic markers.
- Understanding gene function is crucial for deciphering metabolic pathways.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the nucleotide sequence of the outG locus.
- To identify potential coding sequences and predict the function of the encoded protein.
- To rename the locus to pksX based on functional predictions.
Main Methods:
- DNA sequencing of the 13.6 kb outG locus.
- Bioinformatic analysis of nucleotide and amino acid sequences.
- Comparison with known fatty acid and polyketide synthases (PKS).
- Analysis of deletion mutants.
Main Results:
- A 13.6 kb nucleotide sequence was determined for the outG locus.
- One large coding sequence for a 4427 amino acid polypeptide was identified.
- The deduced protein showed structural similarities to EryA and contained domains characteristic of PKS (beta-ketosynthase, dehydratase, beta-ketoreductase, acyl-carrier protein).
- Preliminary data indicated pksX is not an essential gene.
Conclusions:
- The outG locus, now named pksX, is likely involved in polyketide biosynthesis in Bacillus subtilis.
- The pksX gene product possesses domains consistent with polyketide synthase activity.
- pksX is not essential for Bacillus subtilis viability.