Cloning and sequencing of the endA gene encoding deoxyribonuclease from a deep-sea piezophilic bacterium, Shewanella violacea strain DSS12

*2 We have cloned and sequenced the endA gene, encoding deoxyribonuclease, from a λ phage library of the chromo- some of the deep-sea bacterium Shewanella violacea strain DSS12. This gene, 720 bp in length, was found to encode a protein consisting of 240 amino acid residues with a molecular mass of 27,200 Da. Significant homology was evident comparing the endA gene of S. violacea with that of V. vulnificus (62 % identity), S. typhimurium (59% identity), E. chrysanthemi (59% identity) and E. coli (58% identity). Phylogenetic analyses of EndA proteins of several bacteria showed that S. violacea is closely related to V. vulnificus. Expression plasmid to overproduce the EndA protein was also constructed.