Cloning and characterization of a novel gene encoding L-ribose isomerase from Acinetobacter sp strain DL-28 in Escherichia coli

The gene encoding a novel L-ribose isomerase (L-RI) from Acinetobacter sp. was cloned into Escherichia coli and nucleotide sequence was determined. Th e gene corresponded to an open reading frame of 747 bp that codes for a ded uced protein of 249 amino acids, which showed no amino acid sequence simila rity with any other sugar isomerases. After expression of the gene in E. co li using pUC118 the recombinant L-RI was purified to homogeneity using diff erent chromatographic methods. The overall enzymatic properties of the puri fied recombinant L-RI were the same as those of the authentic L-RI. To our knowledge. this is the first time report concerning the L-RI gene. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.