Characterization of the macromolecular synthesis (MMS) operon from Listeria monocytogenes

Randy Metzger, David P. Brown, Patrick Grealish, Michael J. Staver, James Versalovic, James R. Lupski, Leonard Katz

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

21 Scopus citations

Abstract

The macromolecular synthesis (MMS) operon consists of three genes: rpsU, which encodes the S21 ribosomal protein (in Bacillus subtilis (Bs), rpsU is replaced by orfP23 which encodes a protein of unknown function), dnaG, encoding the DNA primase involved in the initiation of chromosome replication, and rpoD, which encodes the principal sigma subunit of RNA polymerase. The operon was cloned in three segments from Listeria monocytogenes (Lm), initially using a probe designed from a highly conserved region of RpoD. Analysis of the nucleotide sequence revealed three genes: orfP17 (whose product, P17, is homologous to Bs P23), dnaG and rpoD. The Lm DnaG resembles the primase from Escherichia coli through the first two-thirds of the sequence. C-terminal similarity was observed between DnaG from Lm and Bs. Lm RpoD is similar to Bs SigA, shares identical DNA-binding domains with SigA, and is a member of the σ4 subgroup of the σ70 family.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)161-166
Number of pages6
JournalGene
Volume151
Issue number1-2
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 30 1994

Keywords

  • DNA primase
  • dnaG
  • nucleotide sequence
  • rpoD
  • sigma factor

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Genetics

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