Microcin C51 plasmid genes: possible source of horizontal gene transfer.

ABSTRACT: Microcin C51 (MccC51) is an antimicrobial nucleotide-heptapeptide produced by a natural Escherichia coli strain. A 5.7-kb fragment of the pC51 plasmid carrying the genes involved in MccC51 production, secretion, and self-immunity was sequenced, and the genes were characterized. The sequence of the MccC51 gene cluster is highly similar to that of the MccC7 gene. Recombinant plasmids carrying different combinations of the mcc genes involved in the MccC51 production or immunity were constructed to characterize their functional roles. The mccA, mccB, mccD, and mccE genes are involved in MccC51 production, while the mccC and mccE genes are responsible for immunity to MccC51. The mcc gene cluster is flanked by 44-bp direct repeats. Amino acid sequence comparisons allowed us to propose functions

SUBMITTER: Fomenko DE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC182647 | biostudies-literature | 2003 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature