The argG gene of Corynebacterium glutamicum encoding argininosuccinate synthetase (EC6345) was cloned and sequenced. The gene was cloned by heterologous complementation of an Escherichia coli arginine auxotrophic mutant (argG^-). The cloned DNA fragment also complements E. coli argD, argF, and argH mutants, suggesting a clustered organization of the genes in the chromosome. The coding region of the argG gene is 1,206 nucleotides long with a deduced molecular weight of about 44 kDa, comparable with the predicted size of the expressed protein on the SDS-PAGE. Computer analysis revealed that the amino acid sequence of the argG gene product had a high similarity to that of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Streptomyces clavuligerus. Two conserved sequence motifs within the ArgG appear to be ATP-binding sites which correspond to 2 of the 3 conserved regions found in sequences of all known argininosuccinate synthetases.