CLONING AND EXPRESSION OF THE MYCOBACTERIUM-FORTUITUM SUPEROXIDE-DISMUTASE GENE

In this paper we report the cloning, sequencing and expression of the superoxide dismutase (sod) gene from Mycobacterium fortuitum. A single gene was found to code for superoxide dismutase activity with its ide ntity being confirmed by expression in M. aurum. The amino acid sequen ce was found to be similar to that of superoxide dismutases of several other origins. A region downstream of the sod gene also showed simila rities to the corresponding sequences of the two main mycobacterial pa thogens: M. leprae and M. tuberculosis, Analysis of enzymatic activity showed this enzyme in M. fortuitum required manganese as cofactor.