Applied genetics in the gram positive bacterium staphylococcus carnosus

Abstract

Staphylococcus carnosus has been used for a long time in the food industry as a starter culture. A host/vector system using this microorganism has been developed in order to investigate heterologous gene expression and to produce certain enzymes and hormones. The methods used for cloning are briefly described. The Staphylococcus hyicus lipase gene has been studied in more detail. Gene expression and protein studies in S. carnosus revealed that the lipase protein is composed of a signal peptide, a propeptide and the mature enzyme. The lipase gene was successfully used for gene fusion studies and to secrete heterologous proteins in S. carnosus.