Cloning and Overexpression of the Cdd Gene Encoding Cytidine Deaminase from Salmonella typhimurium

The Salmonella typhimurium cdd gene encoding cytidine deaminase (cyti-dine/2'-deoxycytidine aminohydrolase; EC 3.5.4.5.) was isolated through shotgun clon-ing by complementation of the E. coli odd mutation. By subsequent deletion and sub-cloning from the original 3.7 Kb of EcoRI insert (pSAMI), the precise region of the cdd structural gene is located around the BglII site in the middle part of 1.7 Kb of NruI/PvuI segment. The 1.7 Kb containing odd gene wag subcloned to the pUC18 vector and the nucleotide sequence of the cdd gene was determined. When the putative ribosorne-binding site (Shine-Dalgarno sequence) and initiation codon were predicted to be GAGG at the position 459 and ATG at the position 470, respectively, there was an open reading frame of 885 nucleotides, encoding an 294 amino acid protein. The cdd gene expression in E. coli JF611/pSAMI was amplified about 50 fold compared to that of the wild type. The cdd gene expression was maintained in the stationary phase after rea-ching the peak in the late logarithmic phase.