The gene coding for a collagen binding protein from Lactobacillus reuteri NCIB 11951 was cloned and sequenced. A genomic lambda library was constructed and recombinant plaques were screened using antisera raised against purified collagen binding proteins from the same L. reuteri strain. The positive plaques were subjected to sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and Western blot analysis, which revealed the expression of a 29 kDa protein, which reacted with the antisera and bound 125I-labelled type I collagen. The sequence of the corresponding gene, cnb showed that the collagen binding protein has sequence similarities to the solute binding component of bacterial ABC transporters.