A new gene of the ƒ1 operon of Y. pestis involved in the capsule biogenesis

Abstract
The DNA sequence determination or the ƒ1 operon between the genes encoding the F1 subunit (caf1) and chaperone‐like protein (caf1M) revealed a large open reading frame that codes for a polypeptide similar to some E. coli proteins involved in the biogenesis of fimbria. The deletion and in trans complementation analyses showed that this gene is not necessary for extracellular transport or the F1 subunit but plays a role in the capsule assembly.