Co-existence of clpB and clpC in the Bacillaceae

The gene encoding ClpC in Bacillus anthracis was amplified from the chromos ome by polymerase chain reaction using degenerate oligonucleotide primers. These primers also amplified a second DNA fragment identified as a clpB hom olog. Both genes were suggested to be functional. Contrary to Bacillus subt ilis which possesses clpC but not clpB, many Bacillus species were found to harbor both clpC and clpB. We also found that Clostridium strains could po ssess clpB, clpC, or both. All the Gram-negative strains tested had clpB on ly. (C) 1999 Federation of European Microbiological Societies. Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.