Isolation and genetic structure of IS112, an insertion sequence responsible for the inactivation of the SalI restriction-modification system of Streptomyces albus G.

IS112 is a transposable element identified in Streptomyces albus G by its frequent mutagenic insertion into the genes for the SalI restriction-modification system. IS112 is present in several copies in the genome of S. albus G. Homologous sequences were detected in other Streptomyces strains. Sequence analysis revealed that IS112 has a length of 883 bp with a GC content of 67.4%. The copy that was isolated contained imperfect inverted repeats (16/20 match) at its ends and was flanked by a 2 bp duplication at the target site, which was located within the gene (salIR) for the SalI endonuclease. A long open reading frame (ORF) encoding a putative polypeptide of 256-253 amino acids spans almost the entire sequence. Significant homology was detected between this polypeptide and that corresponding to ORFB of IS493, an insertion sequence recently isolated from Streptomyces lividans 66.