CLONING AND CHARACTERIZATION OF FEMA AND FEMB FROM STAPHYLOCOCCUS-EPIDERMIDIS

A DNA fragment was identified and cloned from Staphylococcus epidermid is (Se) using femA from S. aureus (Sa) as a heterologous hybridization probe. DNA sequence analysis of a portion of this clone revealed two complete ORFs highly related to femA and femB of Sa. The genomic arran gement of the Se femA/B complex was nearly identical to that observed in Sa. Intra- and interspecies relatedness of these genes and conserva tion of genomic organization were consistent with gene duplication of one of these genes in an ancestral organism. Recombinant FEMA, produce d in Escherichia coli (Ec), was purified to near homogeneity. Identity of the purified protein was verified by N-terminal amino acid (aa) se quence analysis.