Note: molecular cloning of chitinase genes from Vibrio anguillarum and V. parahaemolyticus

Chitinase genes from Vibrio anguillarum KV9001 and V. parahaemolyticus ATCC17802 were cloned into Escherichia coli. Open reading frames of chitinase genes from V. anguillarum (vac) and V. parahaemolyticus (vpc) are 1755 bp and 1890 bp, respectively. The deduced amino acid sequences of these genes have 71.6% identity. There are two consensus sequence regions in the VAC and VPC proteins. The vac gene was highly prevalent in V. anguillarum, and the DNA probe of the vac gene hybridized to V. alginolyticus and Beneckea proteolytica DNA. The DNA probe of the upc gene hybridized to V. alginolyticus, V. harveyi and V. ordalii DNA.