Expression of the envelope antigen F1 of <i>Yersinia pestis</i> is mediated by the product of <i>caf1M</i> gene having homology with the chaperone protein PapD of <i>Escherichia coli</i>

The effective synthesis of the envelope antigen F1 of Y. pestis in E. coli HB101 is mediated by the expression of the caf1M gene. This gene was sequenced, and the protein encoded was found to have a significant homology with the chaperone protein PapD of uropathogenic E. coli. The data presented allow one to suppose Caf1M and PapD proteins perform similar functions in the biogenesis of the Y. pestis capsule and E. coli P-pili, respectively.