A Group I Self-Splicing Intron in the Flagellin Gene of the Thermophilic Bacterium Geobacillus stearothermophilus

A group I intron that can be spliced in vivo and in vitro was identified in the flagellin gene of the thermophilic bacterium Geobacillus stearothermophilus. We also found one or two intervening sequences (IVS) of flagellin genes in five additional bacterial species. Furthermore, we report the presence of these sequences in two sites of a highly conserved region in the flagellin gene.