Isolation and characterization of the Vibrio cholerae acfA gene, required for efficient intestinal colonization.

The nucleotide sequence of the Vibrio cholerae acfA gene (encoding an accessory colonization factor) has been determined. Sequence analysis revealed the presence of an open reading frame of 215 amino acids with a characteristic signal peptidase I (SPI) cleavage site at the N terminus. Electrophoretic analysis of proteins synthesized by Escherichia coli cells, following T7 promoter/RNA polymerase-directed expression of acfA, revealed a 23-kDa protein corresponding to the mature form of AcfA. The T7 expression system also showed that, in the presence of known SPI inhibitors, a 25-kDa unprocessed form of AcfA is produced.