Identification of a methyl-accepting chemotaxis protein in Rhodobacter sphaeroides

Molecular Microbiology
M J WardJ P Armitage

Abstract

Analysis of the DNA sequence directly upstream of the chemotaxis operon of Rhodobacter sphaeroides identified a single gene whose product has strong similarity to the methyl-accepting chemotaxis proteins (MCPs) found in enteric bacteria. The deduced protein had a highly conserved signalling sequence and only one very hydrophobic region at the N-terminus, in contrast to enteric MCPs. A possible cytoplasmic location of the majority of the protein was supported by Western blotting. The mcpA gene was insertionally inactivated and the resulting phenotype examined using swarm plate assays. The mutant lacking McpA lost chemotaxis to a wide range of attractant stimuli but only under aerobic conditions; it retained almost normal chemotaxis under anaerobic/photosynthetic conditions. The identification of a sensory protein which is active only under one set of growth conditions suggests that R. sphaeroides probably has several MCPs, which co-ordinately respond to changes in environmental conditions. Southern hybridization at relaxed stringency to the conserved sequence of the R. sphaeroides and Caulobacter crescentus mcp genes identified three possible additional mcp genes.

Citations

Oct 10, 1998·Gene·E L WrightC H Shaw
Feb 27, 1999·Molecular Microbiology·D M HarrisonJ R Maddock
Dec 1, 2000·Applied and Environmental Microbiology·H L Packer, J P Armitage
Oct 13, 2000·Journal of Bacteriology·G AlexandreI B Zhulin
Jul 24, 2001·Journal of Bacteriology·G Alexandre, I B Zhulin
Nov 22, 2001·Journal of Bacteriology·A C MartinJ P Armitage
Jun 10, 2004·Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews : MMBR·Hendrik Szurmant, George W Ordal
Feb 19, 1998·Microbiology·Yehudit Jeziore-SassoonJudith P Armitage
Mar 1, 1996·Microbiology·Helen L PackerJudith P Armitage

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