Open AccessCloning of the genes of the chitin utilization regulon of Serratia liquefaciens
Author(s) -
Sadhna Joshi,
Maya Kozlowski,
Gopalan Selvaraj,
V. N. Iyer,
R. Wayne Davies
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
journal of bacteriology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.652
H-Index - 246
eISSN - 1067-8832
pISSN - 0021-9193
DOI - 10.1128/jb.170.7.2984-2988.1988
Subject(s) - biology , regulon , gene , chitinase , repressor , genetics , transposable element , transposon mutagenesis , insertional mutagenesis , cloning (programming) , sleeping beauty transposon system , mutagenesis , mutant , gene expression , computer science , programming language
The set of genes that determine the expression of the enzymes involved in chitin degradation by Serratia liquefaciens was cloned. The role of each gene was investigated, and for the first time regulatory genes were identified in this system. The chiA and chiB genes coded for separate chitinase activities. The chiC region coded for a chitobiase activity, but it was not formally separated from chiB. Transposon mutagenesis and deletion analysis identified a region, chiD, whose absence led to higher expression of chiA, chiB, and chiC. chiD may therefore be a gene that codes for a repressor. Loss of function of another adjacent region, chiE, prevented induction unless a chiE+ strain was a near neighbor, suggesting that this gene may code for a protein that is involved in the synthesis of the inducer. chiB, chiC, chiD, and chiE are closely linked, while chiA is in a separate location on the chromosome.