Identification of a gene cluster for the mevalonate pathway in Lactobacillus helveticus

Three Lactobacillus helveticus 53/7 genes essential for the biosynthesis of isopentenyl diphosphate and the gene coding for a putative carotenoid biosynthesis protein were for the first time identified from lactic acid bacteria, The deduced amino acid sequences of the mevalonate pathway gene products share significant identity with corresponding proteins of a few gram-positive cocci and Streptomyces species.