Sequence Analysis of a DNA Fragment from Buchnera aphidicola (Aphid Endosymbiont) Containing the Genes dapD-htrA-ilvI-ilvH-ftsL-ftsI-murE

Buchnera aphidicola is a prokaryotic endosymbiont of the aphid Schizaphis graminum. One of the endosymbiont's functions is the synthesis of branched-chain amino acids. A 9.7-kilobase B. aphidicola chromosomal DNA fragment was cloned and sequenced and found to contain genes encoding acetohydroxy acid synthase (ilvIH), the first enzyme of the parallel pathway of isoleucine and valine biosynthesis. Previously we have detected ilvC and ilvD, encoding the two other enzymes of this pathway. In addition the DNA fragment contained genes for cell division (ftsL, ftsI), murein biosynthesis (murE), lysine biosynthesis (dapD) and a periplasmic protease (htrA). In these properties B. aphidicola resembles free-living bacteria. Received: 25 April 1998 / Accepted: 28 April 1998