Identification of Pseudomonas aeruginosa glpM, whose gene product is required for efficient alginate biosynthesis from various carbon sources

In a mucB (algN) genetic background, insertion of an Ω element ~200 bp downstream of glpD, encoding sn-glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa, had an adverse effect on alginate biosynthesis from various carbon sources. The insertion inactivated glpM, a gene encoding a 12,040-M(r) hydrophobic protein containing 109 amino acids. This protein, which was expressed in a T7 RNA polymerase expression system, appears to be a cytoplasmic membrane protein.