Cloning and sequencing of the gene for the DNA-binding 17K protein of Escherichia coli.

The skp gene encoding the 17K protein, a basic DNA-binding nucleoid-associated protein of Escherichia coli, was cloned as part of a 2.3-kb genomic fragment. The gene was sequenced and a polypeptide of 161 amino acids (aa) was deduced from the nucleotide sequence. The primary translation product was processed by cutting off the N-terminal 20 aa residues, yielding a mature polypeptide of 141 aa. The Mr of the mature polypeptide was 15,674. An E. coli transformant containing the skp gene on the plasmid pGAH317 was shown to overproduce the gene product some 20-fold.