title: Characterization of melA: a gene encoding melanin biosynthesis from the marine bacterium Shewanella colwelliana.
abstract: A recombinant plasmid with the ability to impart melanin synthesis to an Escherichia coli host was isolated from a Shewanella colwelliana genomic library. The genetic determinant of the Mel+ phenotype is carried on a 1.3-kb DNA fragment and sequence analysis of this revealed a single intact open reading frame that was sufficient for melanin synthesis (mel). This gene is expressed as a monocistronic transcript and a putative transcription start point is located 115 nucleotides upstream from the translational start codon. The mel gene encoded a protein of 39.5 kDa [346 amino acids (aa)] that showed no aa sequence homology with other proteins known to mediate melanin synthesis (e.g., tyrosinases).
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, University of Maryland, College Park 20742.
authors.forename: W C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Fuqua
authors.forename: V E
authors.initials: VE
authors.lastname: Coyne
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Stein
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Weiner
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D001665:Binding Sites; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D003300:Copper / Q000378:metabolism; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015723:Gene Library; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008386:Marine Biology; D008543:Melanins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D010125:Ostreidae / Q000382:microbiology; D021382:Protein Sorting Signals; D016364:Reading Frames; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014443:Tyrosine / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D008543:Melanins; D021382:Protein Sorting Signals; D014443:Tyrosine; D003300:Copper; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase