Nucleotide sequence of the gene encoding the Streptomyces albus G beta-lactamase precursor

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Abstract
A 1400-base DNA fragment, which contains the gene encoding the extracellular active-site serine β-lactamase of Streptomyces albus G previously cloned into Streptomyces lividans [Dehottay et al. (1986) Gene 42, 31–36], was sequenced. The gene codes for a 314-amino-acid precursor, the N-terminal region of which has the characteristics of a signal peptide. The β-lactamase as excreted by the host strain S. lividans PD6 has a ragged N-terminus, indicating either the presence of a leader peptidase of poor specificity or the action of an aminopeptidase. The primary structure (as deduced from the nucleotide sequence) was confirmed by amino acid sequencing of a 16-residue stretch at the amino terminus of the protein, a 12-residue stretch containing the active-site serine [De Meester et al. (1987) Biochem. J. 244, 427–432] and a 23-residue stretch obtained by trypsin digestion of the protein. The β-lactamase belongs to class A, has three half-cystine residues (one of which occurs on the amino side of the active-site serine) and is inactivated by thiol reagents. Pultative ribosome binding site and terminator region were identified.