title: Characterization of the type 8 capsular gene cluster of Streptococcus pneumoniae.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas, CSIC, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Muñoz
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mollerach
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: López
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: García
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial; C121798:pneumococcal polysaccharide, type 8