Characterisation of the urease-encoding gene complex of Yersinia enterocolitica

Abstract

A cosmid gene library of chromosomal DNA from Yersinia enterocolitica A2635 (serogroup O:8) was constructed in Escherichia coli. Subcloning of a urease-positive (Ure+) clone revealed a region of 6.6 kb that was sufficient for expression of Ure activity in E. coli. Sequencing of this fragment disclosed seven ORFs transcribed in the same direction. On the basis of homology to known Ure, these were designated ureA, ureB, ureC, ureE, ureF, ureG and ureD, which are predicted to encode polypeptides of 11.1, 17.9, 61.0, 29.5, 25.0, 24.1 and 36.4 kDa, respectively. The polypeptides encoded by the ure gene complex of Y. enterocolitica are significantly divergent from those encoded by the ure opérons ..