but mainly within the cells (Albarracín et al., 2008) (Fig. 4). These
last authors hypothesized that the Cu-bioaccumulation displayed
by the A. tucumanensis DSM 45259 phenotype may be related to
the presence of a copper P-type ATPase, as has been observed in
other resistant microorganisms (Solioz and Vulpe, 1996). In order
to verify this, specific oligonucleotides for targeting genes coding
for Cu P-Type ATPases that could be involved in the Cu uptake
ability of this strain were constructed. A 607 bp DNA fragment was
amplified and sequenced from A. tucumanensis DSM 45259.
Interestingly, BLAST search analysis showed 71% protein homology
of the deduced sequence with a putative cation-transporting
ATPase from Nocardia farcinica, and 65% with a Cu-translocating
ATPase from Mycobacterium flavescens. This was the first report
of the presence of Cu P-type ATPase genes in the genus
Amycolotopsis.