A novel transposon-like structure carries the genes for pyocin AP41, a Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteriocin with a DNase domain homology to E2 group colicins.
The genetic determinant for pyocin AP41, a bacteriocin produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, has been cloned. The determinant is located on the chromosome flanked by a pair of inverted repeats, forming a transposon-like structure (TnAP41). TnAP41 possesses some features characteristic of the Tn3 family of transposons. Based on a comparison with the structure of the corresponding region of the chromosome of a non-producer strain, we propose that P. aeruginosa has acquired pyocinogeny by the transposition of TnAP41 into the chromosome. The determinant comprises two ORFs encoding the protein subunits responsible for the killing action (the large component) and immunity (the small component). Amino acid sequences of the C-terminus of the large component (the deoxyribonuclease domain) and the immunity protein show remarkable homology to those of E2 group colicins, suggesting that these bacteriocins, which are produced by distantly related species, have originated from a common ancestor.
Mitsubishi Kasei Institute of Life Sciences, Tokyo, Japan.
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Sano
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Kageyama
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000596:Amino Acids / Q000032:analysis; D001482:Base Composition; D001483:Base Sequence; D005075:Biological Evolution; D002876:Chromosomes, Bacterial; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D003087:Colicins / Q000235:genetics; D017124:Conserved Sequence; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements / Q000235:genetics*; D005798:Genes, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics*; D008957:Models, Genetic; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000235:genetics*; D011709:Pyocins; D012091:Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid; D015183:Restriction Mapping; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
D000596:Amino Acids; D003087:Colicins; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D011709:Pyocins; C080280:pyocin AP41