Variant pili produced by mutants of the Flac plasmid

Journal of General Microbiology
N S WillettsW Paranchych

Abstract

Transfer-proficient Flac mutants with reduced abilities to plate various F-specific phages were isolated, either by selection after mutagenesis, or as revertants of Flac traA mutants. In many of the mutants pilus-related properties were altered, including physical adsorption of R17 phage, the number of pili per cell and the outgrowth/retraction equilibrium. Complementation studies showed that the mutations were in traA, suggesting that specific alterations in the amino-acid sequence of the pilin subunit protein were responsible for the altered pilus properties. Complementation between the Flac traA mutants and the derepressed plasmid R100-1 restored phage sensitivity in some cases, suggesting that the incorporation of both mutant and R100-1 subunits into the pilus structure may result in conformational changes which increase the capacity of the pilus to interact with phages.

Citations

Feb 1, 1979·Molecular & General Genetics : MGG·N Willetts, J Maule
Feb 1, 1986·Genetical Research·N Willetts, J Maule
Jun 4, 2014·Molecular Microbiology·Christina M BeckChristopher S Hayes
Mar 1, 1984·Plasmid·K Ippen-IhlerN S Willetts

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