This paper reports the cloning and characterization of a gene encoding galactoside acetyltransferase from a strain of Lactococcus lactis. A PstI library of L. lactis strain ATCC7962 DNA was constructed in plasmid pUC18. A clone harbouring a 10 kbp DNA fragment containing part of the lac operon was isolated using a labelled probe generated by PCR. DNA sequence analysis revealed the presence of a gene encoding a protein with 64.5 % similarity to the galactoside acetyltransferase from Escherichia coli. The codon usage pattern of this gene was not typical of lactococcal genes. The lactococcal lac operon organization appears to be different to that of other organisms.