FIG. 4.

Multiple sequence alignment of deduced amino acid sequences. The L. helveticus sequence for SlpH1 (NCBI protein identification number CAA62606.1) and the L. helveticus CP790 proteinase sequence (NCBI protein identification number BAA86287) are reported as references. Asterisks denote residues conserved among all sequences, and dots represent gaps introduced into a sequence for alignment. The highly conserved NH₂- and COOH-terminal regions are shown in boxes. The double underline denotes the prosequence within the proteinase-like sequences. The roman numerals in parentheses following the strain names refer to the phylogenetic tree (I or II). The black- and white-filled arrows indicate the signal peptide and prosequence cleavage sites, respectively.