An isochorismate hydroxymutase isogene in Escherichia coli.

The pivotal step in enterobactin and menaquinone biosynthesis is the conversion of chorismate to isochorismate. Circumstantial evidence pointed to Escherichia coli isochorismate hydroxymutase isogenes being responsible for this conversion. While the gene involved in enterobactin synthesis (entC) was known, the corresponding gene for menaquinone biosynthesis (menF) was not but has now been identified and sequenced. The amino acid sequence of MenF is 23.5% identical and 57.8% similar to that of EntC.