Cloning and DNA sequence analysis of a bacteriocin gene of Serratia marcescens.

Serratia marcescens N28b synthesized and secreted a bacteriocin, with a molecular mass of 45 kDa, which was capable of inhibiting the growth of Escherichia coli. The expression of this bacteriocin was negligible unless induced with mitomycin C. The genes encoding the bacteriocin were cloned in plasmid pBR328. E. coli harbouring recombinant plasmid pBA189 or pBA289 expressed the Serratia marcescens N28b bacteriocin. The nucleotide sequence of the bss gene (Serratia marcescens N28b bacteriocin structural gene) was determined. The predicted amino acid sequence of the carboxy-terminal part of the bacteriocin 28b had a high degree of similarity to the pore-forming domains of colicins A, E1, B, N, Ia and Ib.