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. 1990 Oct;172(10):5783–5788. doi: 10.1128/jb.172.10.5783-5788.1990

Cloning and expression of a Staphylococcus aureus gene encoding a peptidoglycan hydrolase activity.

R K Jayaswal 1, Y I Lee 1, B J Wilkinson 1
PMCID: PMC526895  PMID: 1976618

Abstract

A gene of Staphylococcus aureus PS47 encoding lytic activity was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. Deletion analysis of a recombinant plasmid carrying a 7.4-kilobase-pair fragment (kbp) of S. aureus DNA suggested that the gene was located within a 2.5-kbp EcoRI-XbaI fragment. Analysis of extracts of E. coli harboring recombinant plasmids on denaturing polyacrylamide gels containing purified cell walls of S. aureus showed a clearing zone by a polypeptide of apparent Mr 23,000. The release of dinitrophenylalanine but not reducing groups from purified cell walls by a cell extract of recombinant E. coli suggested that we had cloned an N-acetylmuramyl-L-alanine amidase.

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Selected References

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