Identification of a fmtA-like gene that has similarity to other PBPs and beta-lactamases in Staphylococcus aureus

We identified a gene from Staphylococcus aureus, flp (fmtA-like protein), e ncoding a protein of 489 amino acid residues with a molecular mass of 56.4 kDa. The deduced amino acid sequence shows similarity to previously charact erized penicillin binding proteins (PBPs) and FmtA of S. aureus (one of the factors which affect methicillin resistance). FLP protein has three motifs , which are conserved in PBPs and beta-lactamases, suggesting that it might be associated with cell wall synthesis. Recombinant FLP protein, however, lacks penicillin binding activity, and the inactivation of flp in two methi cillin-resistant S. aureus strains did not cause a reduction in the methici llin resistance. (C) 2000 Federation of European Microbiological Societies. Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.