In
Erwinia chrysanthemi (EC16) the clustered
pelA and
pelE genes encode an acidic (pI 4.2) and a basic (pI 10.0) pectate lyase (Pel), respectively. The
pelA gene has been isolated on a 1.2 kb restriction fragment and the direction of transcription determined. DNA hybridization analysis showed that the
pelE sequence shares DNA homology with
pelA but not with
pelB or
pelC, two genes encoding other Pel species in EC16. Since Pel A and Pel E enzymes showed little similarity in terms of catalytic properties, it is proposed that
pelA and
pelE are duplicates which have highly diverged.
Key words
Erwinia chrysanthemi
- Pectate lyases - Gene duplication
Communicated by W. Goebel