Open AccessLocalization of the Leptospira interrogans metF gene on the CII secondary chromosome
Author(s) -
Bourhy Pascale,
Saint Girons Isabelle
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.2000.tb09349.x
Subject(s) - genetics , biology , methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase , gene , chemistry , biochemistry , genotype
An open reading frame of 885 nucleotides was identified as the Leptospira interrogans metF gene. The deduced amino acid sequence (294 amino acids) showed similarities with Escherichia coli methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase (MetF or MTHFR) (33% identity) and with the N‐terminal part of human MTHFR (33% identity). The L. interrogans metF gene complements an E. coli metF mutant to prototrophy, suggesting the functionality of the folate branch converging to form methionine. In addition, the L. interrogans MetF was found to be thermolabile. The metF gene belonged to the CII secondary chromosome, in contrast to the previously isolated metY and metX genes, which have been localized to the CI chromosome of Leptospira sp.