Nucleotide sequences of the proA and proB genes of Treponema pallidum, the syphilis agent.

The nucleotide sequences of the putative proA and proB genes of Treponema pallidum were determined. The proA gene is 1287 nucleotides long and encodes a 428 amino acid protein with a predicted M(r) of 46.6 kDa. The proB gene is 891 nucleotides long and encodes a 296 amino acid protein with a predicted M(r) of 31.3 kDa. The deduced amino acid sequences of the treponemal ProA and ProB proteins have a high degree of homology to the amino acid sequences of several bacterial ProA and ProB proteins. The order of the T. pallidum pro genes (proA/proB) is unique in comparison to the order of these genes in other bacteria. The identification of the putative proA and proB genes in T. pallidum, coupled with the previous identification of the proC gene, strongly suggests that this fastidious spirochete is capable of proline biosynthesis.