Identification of four genes of the Brucella melitensis ATP synthase operon F0 sector: relationship with the Rhodospirillaceae family.

We have determined the nucleotide sequence of a cloned DNA fragment from the human and animal pathogen Brucella melitensis. Four genes were identified from a 4069 bp fragment, corresponding to the B. melitensis a, c, b', and b subunits of the ATP synthase F0 sector operon. A duplicated and divergent copy of the b-subunit gene was observed. This feature has been found only in photosynthetic bacteria and chloroplasts. In addition, the gene cluster was separated from the F1 sector, a characteristic described only for the Rhodospirillaceae family.