NUCLEOTIDE-SEQUENCES OF THE PROA AND PROB GENES OF TREPONEMA-PALLIDUM, THE SYPHILIS AGENT

The nucleotide sequences of the putative proA and proB genes of Trepon ema pallidum were determined. The proA gene is 1287 nucleotides long a nd encodes a 428 amino acid protein with a predicted M-r of 46.6 kDa. The proB gene is 891 nucleotides long and encodes a 296 amino acid pro tein with a predicted M-r of 31.3 kDa. The deduced amino acid sequence s of the treponemal ProA and ProB proteins have a high degree of homol ogy to the amino acid sequences of several bacterial ProA and ProB pro teins. The order of the T. pallidum pro genes (proA/proB) is unique in comparison to the order of these genes in other bacteria. The identif ication of the putative proA and proB genes in T. pallidum, coupled wi th the previous identification of the proC gene, strongly suggests tha t this fastidious spirochete is capable of proline biosynthesis.