Identification and characterization of pseudomonas aeruginosa PA-IIL lectin gene and protein compared to PA-IL.

Using the 33 N-terminal amino acids of the fucose/mannose binding lectin PA-IIL of Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 33347 in a tblastn search of P. aeruginos PAOI genomic sequence in GenBank revealed a single open reading frame encoding a 114-amino acid protein (excluding initiator methionine) perfectly matching that amino acid sequence. Following its stop codon there is a GC-rich sequence having a perfect dyad symmetry promoting formation of a hairpin loop structure, potentially enabling rho-independent transcription termination. Upstream of the putative ribosomal binding site there are sequences resembling Vibrio fischeri luxIbox. consistent with autoinduction of this gene, The predicted PA-IIL molecular mass, confirmed by mass spectrometry, is 11,732 Da. Its pI is 3.88. The C-terminal domain is particularly hydrophobic, implying possible embedding in the cell membrane. PA-IIL is similar to P. aeruginosa PA-IL lectin in some amino acids and potential glycosylation sites but lacks cysteine, methionine and histidine. Despite their relations in functions and regulation.,their genes are widely separated (by about 867.5 kb).