Biopolymers and cell. 2005; 21 (1): 55 - 59

Role of the pelX gene of Klebsiella oxytoca VN13 in pectinolysis

O. V. Lar, G. L. Kovtunovych, N. O. Kozyrovska

An insertionally inactivated copy of the pelX gene of K. oxytoca VN13 was used for the wild type gene substitution by reciprocal recombination. The presence in K. oxytoca VN13 genome of the additional pectate lyase gene with nucleotide sequence differing from the pelX gene was revealed. A considerably lower level of the pectate lyase activity of the mutant K. oxytoca VN13 strain compared to the wild type strain was determined. It was shown, that the pelX gene expression is not essential for polygalacturonate assimilation by this bacterium.

Key words: Klebsiella oxytoca, pectinolysis, insersion mutagenesis, the pelX gene.