CLONING AND SEQUENCING OF THE ILVBNC GENE-CLUSTER FROM MYCOBACTERIUM-AVIUM

Citation
L. Gusberti et al., CLONING AND SEQUENCING OF THE ILVBNC GENE-CLUSTER FROM MYCOBACTERIUM-AVIUM, Gene, 177(1-2), 1996, pp. 83-85
Citations number
11
Categorie Soggetti
Genetics & Heredity
Journal title
GeneACNP
ISSN journal
03781119
Volume
177
Issue
1-2
Year of publication
1996
Pages
83 - 85
Database
ISI
SICI code
0378-1119(1996)177:1-2<83:CASOTI>2.0.ZU;2-T
Abstract
Disseminated Mycobacterium avium (Ma)-M. intracellulare disease is a p revalent opportunistic infection in patients with Acquired Immune Defi ciency Syndrome. Mycobacteria produce a variety of fatty acids which p rovide the first line of defence against potentially lethal environmen tal conditions. The metabolism of the branched-chain amino acids (BCAA ) could be correlated to the production of branched-chain fatty acids in mycobacteria. In order to develop a better understanding of Mycobac terium BCAA biosynthesis, three genes, ilvBN and ilvC, encoding acetoh ydroxy acid synthase (AHS) and acetohydroxy acid isomeroreductase (IR) , respectively, were cloned from Ma. The genes were isolated by screen ing a Ma genomic library with a heterologous probe. The deduced amino acid sequences revealed significant homology to the AHS and IR protein s from other bacterial species.