Molecular characterization and in silico analysis of ectoine biosynthesis genes from the deep sea halophilic eubacteria, Bacillus clausii NIOT-DSB04

Ectoine, a cyclic tetrahydropyrimidine (2-methyl-1,4,5,6-tetrahydropyrimidine-4-carboxylic acid) is a natural compound, which serves as a protective substance in many halophilic bacterial cells. Ectoine biosynthesis genes (ectA, B and C) were PCR amplified from the genomic DNA of deep sea eubacteria, Bacillus clausii NIOT-DSB04. The amplified genes were cloned and nucleotide sequences were determined. Sequencing results revealed that ectA, B and C genes contains 537 bp, 1281 bp, 405 bp long ORF encoding 178, 426 and 134 amino acids, respectively. In silico sequence and phylogenetic analysis of nucleotides and amino acids revealed that the ectA, B and C sequences of Bacillus clausii NIOT-DSB04 were conserved in many eubacteria.