Open reading frame 3, which is adjacent to the mycocerosic acid synthase gene, is expressed as an acyl coenzyme A synthase in Mycobacterium bovis BCG

The adjacent 900-bp open reading frame (ORF3) of the mycocerosic acid synthase mas gene was expressed in Escherichia coli and Mycobacterium bovis to characterize its protein product. ORF3 protein that was characterized as a 61-kDa C-terminal fusion protein in Escherichia coli encoded an acyl coenzyme A synthase when expressed in Mycobacterium bovis BCG. Furthermore, the purified protein product from ORF3 catalyzed coenzyme A ester synthesis without affecting mycocerosic acid synthesis.