title: Characterization of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa alginate lyase gene (algL): cloning, sequencing, and expression in Escherichia coli.
abstract: Mucoid strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa produce a viscous exopolysaccharide called alginate and also express alginate lyase activity which can degrade this polymer. By transposon mutagenesis and gene replacement techniques, the algL gene encoding a P. aeruginosa alginate lyase enzyme was found to reside between algG and algA within the alginate biosynthetic gene cluster at 35 min on the P. aeruginosa chromosome. DNA sequencing data for algL predicted a protein product of ca. 41 kDa, including a 27-amino-acid signal sequence, which would be consistent with its possible localization in the periplasmic space. Expression of the algL gene in Escherichia coli cells resulted in the expression of alginate lyase activity and the appearance of a new protein of ca. 39 kDa detected on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels. In mucoid P. aeruginosa strains, expression of algL was regulated by AlgB, which also controls expression of other genes within the alginate gene cluster. Since alginate lyase activity is associated with the ability to produce and secrete alginate polymers, alginate lyase may play a role in alginate production.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of California, Riverside 92521.
authors.forename: N L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Schiller
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Monday
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Boyd
authors.forename: N T
authors.initials: NT
authors.lastname: Keen
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Ohman
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001483:Base Sequence; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004926:Escherichia coli; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000235:genetics; D005798:Genes, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D005810:Multigene Family / Q000235:genetics*; D016297:Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; D011133:Polysaccharide-Lyases / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000201:enzymology*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011133:Polysaccharide-Lyases; C016158:poly(beta-D-mannuronate) lyase