RESUMO
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To clone the gene encoding methyl-accepting chemotaxis signal transduction protein (MCSTP) of Helicobacter hepaticus and analyze the gene structures using bioinformatics methods.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>With the specific primer of Helicobacter hepaticus MCSTP c1977, MCSTP gene was amplified by PCR from the genomic DNA of Helicobacter hepaticus and ligated to the prokaryotic expression vector pET22b(+). After sequencing, the sequence homology and structural feature of MCSTP gene were analyzed by bioinformatics method.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A 99% similarity was identified between MCSTP gene cloned and its counterpart in standard Helicobacter hepaticus strain ATCC51449 genome DNA published by GenBank, with only a replacement of A by T at 1160 bp. A low homology was found in the MCSTP genes between Helicobacter hepaticus, Campylobacter jejuni and Helicobacter pylori by bioinformatics analysis, suggesting the specificity of MCSTP gene in Helicobacter hepaticus among the microbes.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The prokaryotic expression plasmid pET22b(+)/MCSTP is constructed successfully, and the bioinformatics analysis provided evidences and clues for further study of the biological functions and pathogenic mechanism of MCSTP.</p>