EXPRESSION OF THE OUTER-MEMBRANE PROTEIN P69 OF BORDETELLA-PERTUSSIS IN BACILLUS-SUBTILIS

The gene coding for Bordetella pertussis P.69 protein was cloned and expressed in Bacillus subtilis. The expression vector contained the promoter region and the sequence coding for the whole or truncated signal sequence of the alpha-amylase gene from B. amyloliquefaciens. Using either construction the level of expression was relatively low and the protein was found in the particulate fraction. The protein migrated in gel electrophoresis slower than expected from its deduced amino acid content thereby giving the appearance of having an anomalously large molecular mass.