We have identified and sequenced a gene conferring resistance to
tetracycline by using an efflux system. We are now wondering about how
to name it.
There are loads of tet genes already described, which are grouped in
different classes named TetA, TetB, tetC etcetera, covering about half
the alphabet. These are shown to be different by hybridisation analysis.
Our gene does not show any homology to any of the sequenced genes (but
not all classes have sequenced representatives).
We are now preparing a paper on this gene, soS we are wondering about
how to call ite. Should we simply pick a letter that hasn't been used
yet and call it tet* (with * standing for the letter selected)? Or give
it a completely different name?
Is there an international body that assigns these names that we should
contact first?
Any comments appreciated!
(To reply by email, remove "nospam." from the address)
Koen
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Dr Koen A.L. De Smet
Research Fellow
Department of Medical Microbiology
Imperial College Medical School at St Mary's
Norfolk Place
London W2 1PG
Great Britain
Tel: (+44)-(0)171-594 3946
Fax: (+44)-(0)171-262-6299
http://www.sm.ic.ac.uk/medmicro/home.htm
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