The structural gene (trmD) for the tRNA(m1G)methyltransferase is part of a four polypeptide operon in Escherichia coli K-12.

The trmD gene, which is the structural gene for the tRNA(m1G)-methyltransferase, is shown to be part of a polycistronic operon. A 4.6 kb SalI-EcoRI chromosomal DNA fragment contains the trmD gene (Byström and Björk 1982). Subclonings, deletion mapping and Tn5 insertions into plasmid pBY03 have established the gene organization of the trmD area on the Escherichia coli chromosome. The different plasmid derivatives were analysed for expression of protein products using the minicell system. Such analyses established the organisation of genes encoding six polypeptides to be SalI1-48 K-13 K-25 K-31 K-15 K-16 K-EcoRI1. The 31 K polypeptide was shown to be the tRNA(m1G)methyltransferase. The trmD operon encodes for four polypeptides; 13 K-25 K-31 K(trmD)-15 K and the direction of transcription is from 13 K (promoter proximal) to 15 K (promoter distal). However, there might be a weak internal promoter between the trmD gene and the gene encoding the 15 K product. The level of expression from this operon in the minicell system does not seem to follow normal polarity since we observed high expression of 13 K, 25 K, and 15 K products but low expression of the internal trmD gene.