Gene coding

Genes lux) encoding luciferase and the other proteias iavolved ia the bioluminescent reaction have been cloned. PuxA. and luxP genes code for the luciferase subunits, and the fatty acid reductase complex is coded by the luxCDE genes. 

A constellation of genes code for PBPs of varying amino acid sequences and functionalities. PBPs occur as free-standing polypeptides and as protein fusions. This combinatorial system of structural modules results in a large increase in diversity. 

The genes coding for CETP and PLTP belong to one gene family, which also includes lipopolysaccharide-binding-protein (LBP) and bactericidal/permeability-increasing-protein (BPI). This common descent not only becomes clear from a considerable sequence similarity (45-65% homology at the cDNA level), but also from substantial conservation of exon/intron transitions. 

Finally, also isolated from D. vulgaris was another homodimeric protein (subunit molecular mass of 27 kDa) named nigerythrin (43). Spectroscopic characterization revealed that this protein is similar to Rr. The function of nigerythrin is also unknown. It should be noted that genes coding for two similar Rr proteins were also found in Arch-aeoglobus fulgidus. 

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