Characterization of the type 8 capsular gene cluster of Streptococcus pneumoniae.
The complete nucleotide sequence of the capsular gene cluster (cap8) responsible for the biosynthesis of the capsular polysaccharide of Streptococcus pneumoniae type 8 has been determined. The cap8 gene cluster, located between the genes dexB and aliA, is composed of 12 open reading frames. A 14.7-kb DNA fragment embracing the cap8 genes was sufficient to transform an unencapsulated type 3 S. pneumoniae strain to a strain with the type 8 capsule. A possible scenario for the evolution of pneumococcal types 2 and 8 is outlined.
Muñoz
R
R
Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas, CSIC, Madrid, Spain.
Mollerach
M
M
López
R
R
García
E
E
D001483:Base Sequence; D002240:Carbohydrate Sequence; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D005810:Multigene Family; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000235:genetics* / Q000472:pathogenicity
D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial; C121798:pneumococcal polysaccharide, type 8