mlpB, a gene encoding a new lipoprotein in Myxococcus xanthus.

AIMS To search for and study the genes involved in the regulation of phosphate in the soil developmental bacterium Myxococcus xanthus. METHODS AND RESULTS The mlpB gene encoding a 149 residue polypeptide was identified while screening for genes with products related to phosphate metabolism. The amino terminal 19 residues of MlpB encode a typical prokaryotic signal sequence with a putative lipoprotein cleavage site. CONCLUSIONS In this study, a new myxobacterial putative lipoprotein is reported. The data suggest that MlpB may be involved in the secretion of phosphate-related proteins. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY Soil bacteria have complex regulatory systems for using inorganic phosphate. This nutrient is limiting in the environment, and has a critical importance for growth and in the initiation of differentiation for developmental bacteria. A number of proteins are involved in all these processes, including membrane lipoproteins, which are being increasingly studied in M. xanthus.