CLONING, NUCLEOTIDE-SEQUENCE DETERMINATION AND EXPRESSION OF THE STAPHYLOCOCCUS-AUREUS HYALURONATE LYASE GENE

The Staphylococcus aureus 8325-4 hyaluronate lyase gene (hysA) was ide ntified after detecting hyaluronate lyase activity expressed by phages from a genomic library. The hysA open reading frame, capable of encod ing a protein of 91 980 Da, was identified by Tn5 mutagenesis and nucl eotide sequencing. HysA shares 35 and 36% amino acid sequence identity with group B streptococcal hyaluronate lyase and pneumococcal hyaluro nidase, respectively. A 94-kDa protein was expressed in Escherichia co li minicells, a result consistent with the coding capacity of hysA. Id entification of the S. aureus 8325-4 hyaluronate lyase gene will allow the regulation of this putative virulence determinant to be studied. The nucleotide sequence data have been deposited with Genbank, accessi on number U21221.