Cloning and molecular caracterization of the citrate utilization cit MCDEFGRP cluster of Leuconostoc paramesenteroides

MARTÍN MG; CORRALES MA; DE MENDOZA D; LÓPEZ P; MAGNI C

FEMS MICROBIOLOGY LETTERS

WILEY-BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, INC

Año: 1999 vol. 174 p. 231 - 238

0378-1097

The citMCDEFGRP cluster from Leuconostoc paramesenteroides involved in citrate utilization was cloned and its nucleotide sequence determined. Homology of the inferred gene products with characterized enzymes reveals that citP encodes the citrate permease P, citC the citrate ligase and citDEF the subunits of the citrate lyase of Leuconostoc. Moreover, it suggests that citM encodes a Leuconostoc malic enzyme. Analysis of citrate consumption by and citrate lyase activity of Lc. paramesenteroides J1[pCITJ1] showed that its citrate permease and its citrate lyase are induced by the presence of citrate in the growth medium. Southern blot analysis demonstrated that the citMCDEFGRP cluster is located in a plasmid.