Structure of the metJBLF cluster in Escherichia coli K12. Sequence of the metB structural gene and of the 5‘- and 3‘-flanking regions of the metBL operon.

The total nucleotide sequence (1,158 nucleotides) of the metB gene of Escherichia coli coding for cystathionine gamma-synthase (386 amino acid residues, Mr = 41,503/chain) is presented. The nucleotide sequences of the flanking regions of the metB and metL genes are also presented. Analysis of these sequences and identification of a promoter region upstream from the metB gene confirms that metB and metL form an operon. The transcription direction is from metB to metL; the start site of the gene transcription has been determined. There is no structural evidence of a classical attenuation mechanism in the regulation of this operon coding for enzymes implicated in an amino acid biosynthetic pathway. Finally, the overall organization of the metJBLF gene cluster is discussed.