Isolation and characterization of the recA gene of Bordetella pertussis

This report describes the detection and cloning of the Bordetella pertussis recA gene. Escherichia coli clones having recombinant plasmids containing the B. pertussis recA gene were isolated by complementing an E. coli RecA⁻ mutant's inability to survive in the presence of methylmethanesulphonate (MMS). This gene was shown to complement the deficiency of E. coli RecA⁻ strains to tolerate the DNA‐damaging effects of both a chemical agent and ultraviolet light (u.v.). Deletion mapping experiments localized the gene to a 2.5kb Stul‐EcoRI fragment, and expression of the gene in E. coli resulted in the production of a 40kD protein. These data strongly suggest that a region of the B. pertussis chromosome that encodes RecA‐like activity has been isolated and cloned.