Use of a phoB'-'lacZ fusion gene to determine the N-terminal amino acid sequence of the phoB protein and to prepare antiserum against the protein.

phoB is a positive regulatory gene of the phosphate regulon of Escherichia coli. A plasmid carrying a phoB'-'lacZ fusion gene was constructed by in vitro recombination. A PhoB-LacZ hybrid protein was purified from the cells carrying the plasmid by monitoring beta-galactosidase activity. The amino-terminal amino acid sequence of the PhoB protein was determined by utilizing the hybrid protein. Antiserum against the PhoB protein was prepared by immunizing rabbits with the hybrid protein. The serum thus prepared showed specificity for both the PhoB protein and beta-galactosidase.