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. 1991 Nov;173(22):7092–7097. doi: 10.1128/jb.173.22.7092-7097.1991

The first gene in the Escherichia coli secA operon, gene X, encodes a nonessential secretory protein.

T Rajapandi 1, K M Dolan 1, D B Oliver 1
PMCID: PMC209214  PMID: 1834634

Abstract

TnphoA insertions in the first gene of the Escherichia coli secA operon, gene X, were isolated and analyzed. Studies of the Gene X-PhoA fusion proteins showed that gene X encodes a secretory protein, since the fusion proteins possessed normal alkaline phosphatase activity and a substantial portion of this activity was found in the periplasm. In addition, the Gene X-PhoA fusion proteins were initially synthesized with a cleavable signal peptide. A gene X::TnphoA insertion was used to construct a strain containing a disrupted chromosomal copy of gene X. Analysis of this strain indicated that gene X is nonessential for cell growth and viability and does not appear to play an essential role in the process of protein export.

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Selected References

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