The gene CBO0515 from Clostridium botulinum strain Hall A encodes the rare enzyme N5-(carboxyethyl) ornithine synthase, EC 1.5.1.24.

ABSTRACT

Sequencing of the genome of Clostridium botulinum strain Hall A revealed a gene (CBO0515), whose putative amino acid sequence was suggestive of the rare enzyme N(5)-(1-carboxyethyl) ornithine synthase. To test this hypothesis, CBO0515 has been cloned, and the encoded polypeptide was purified and characterized. This unusual gene appears to be confined to proteolytic strains assigned to group 1 of C. botulinum.