FIG. 1.

(A) Diagram of the lsp operon region in the chromosome of group A streptococcal serotype M49 strain 591. Designation of ORFs or genes was done according to Podbielski et al. (46) (C5a peptidase scpA and ORFX), Terao et al. (57) (fibronectin-binding protein fba), Podbielski and Leonard (42) (dipeptide permease dppDE), and the present study (lsp, ORF2, and ORF3). Arrows, representing the genes, indicate the direction of transcription and were drawn to scale. P, promoter; ta, transcriptional attenuator; tt, transcriptional terminator. (B) Northern blot hybridizations of lsp operon and ORF3 messages. Total RNA in amounts of 5, 10, and 15 μg was separated by denaturing agarose gel electrophoresis, transferred to membranes, and hybridized with non-radioactively labeled specific probes. The positions and sizes of the specific messages (arrows) and of a RNA size reference are marked. RNA bands of smaller sizes result from unspecific association of the mRNA with the 16S rRNA and from mRNA breakdown products.