title: The complete cps gene cluster from Streptococcus thermophilus NCFB 2393 involved in the biosynthesis of a new exopolysaccharide.
abstract: The cpsFGHIJKL genes from the cps cluster of Streptococcus thermophilus NCFB 2393 involved in the biosynthesis of EPS were identified, cloned and nucleotide sequenced. The complete cps cluster is contained on an approximately 11.2 kb chromosomal region which contains 12 ORFs, including the previously cloned cpsABCDE genes. Functions were assigned to some of the predicted gene products on the basis of homology to known sequences as follows: cpsK encodes a protein thought to be involved in the polymerization and export of the polysaccharide; cpsE, cpsF, cpsG, cpsH, cpsI and cpsJ encode putative sugar transferases. Two insertion sequences, IS1193 and ISS1, were identified within and flanking the 3' end of the cps cluster respectively. Analysis of the expression of the cpsE gene in Escherichia coli demonstrated that it encodes a glucose-1-phosphate transferase; the enzyme which catalyses the first step in EPS biosynthesis in S. thermophilus NCFB 2393.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Food Research, Norwich Research Park, Colney Lane, NR4 7UA Norwich, UK1.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Almirón-Roig
authors.affiliation: Institute of Food Research, Norwich Research Park, Colney Lane, NR4 7UA Norwich, UK1.
authors.forename: Francis
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mulholland
authors.affiliation: Institute of Food Research, Norwich Research Park, Colney Lane, NR4 7UA Norwich, UK1.
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Gasson
authors.affiliation: Institute of Food Research, Norwich Research Park, Colney Lane, NR4 7UA Norwich, UK1.
authors.forename: Annette M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Griffin
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D002876:Chromosomes, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements / Q000235:genetics; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics; D015870:Gene Expression; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D016695:Glycosyltransferases / Q000235:genetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D005810:Multigene Family; D016366:Open Reading Frames; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial; D016695:Glycosyltransferases