Sequences representing the 2684 bp flanking the ipaH 4 . 5 gene on the invasion plasmid of Shigella flexneri 5 indicate an unusual fusion gene, designated ipgH, in which the first 27 amino acids (aa) are identical to ORF2 of IS629. The aa sequence encoded by the remainder of ipgH bears significant homology to Escherichia coli and to Salmonella typhimurium GlpT and UhpT proteins and to the S. typhimurium PgtP protein, which are involved in the uptake of high-energy sugar phosphates from an external source.