ABC transporters in Archaea: two genes encoding homologs of the nucleotide-binding components in the methanogen Methanosarcina mazei S-6

Abstract

Two genes, 5′-orfD-orfF-3′, were found in the genome of the archaeon Methanosarcina mazei S-6 that encode the deduced proteins, OrfD and OrfF, with structural motifs typical of the nucleotide-binding components of the ABC-transporter systems of Bacteria and Eukarya. These motifs, and other similarities of OrfD and OrfF with bacterial and eukaryal counterparts, indicate that the two archaeal molecules belong to the ATP-binding cassette (ABC)-transporter family.