ISOLATION OF BIOLUMINESCENT FUNCTIONS FROM PHOTOBACTERIUM-LEIOGNATHI - ANALYSIS OF LUXA, LUXB, LUXG AND NEIGHBORING GENES

Genes encoding luminescence of Photobacterium leiognathi have been cloned in Escherichia coli. The luminescent clones were readily apparent. Among them, a clone containing a recombinant plasmid with a 13.5-kb insertion was identified. This DNA fragment contained all of the luminescence-encoding genes. The luciferase-encoding genes (lux) in this DNA fragment were localized. We have sequenced a part of the cloned lux region and identified the luxA, luxB and luxG genes encoding the α and β subunits of luciferase and a γ protein with an Mr of 26 180, respectively. The analysis of deduced amino acid sequences and comparison with known luciferase sequences from Vibrio harveyi, indicate the common origin of these proteins. © 1990.