The Gene Encoding the Glutamate Dehydrogenase in Lactococcus lactis Is Part of a Remnant Tn3 Transposon Carried by a Large Plasmid

The gene responsible for the uncommon glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) activity of Lactococcus lactis was identified and characterized. It encodes a GDH of family I that is mainly active in glutamate biosynthesis, is carried by a large plasmid, and is included, with functional cadmium resistance genes, in a remnant Tn3-like transposon.