Attraction by repellents: an error in sensory information processing by bacterial mutants.
Normal Escherichia coli bacteria are repelled by acetate, benzoate, and indole and attracted by alpha-aminoisobutyrate. We have isolated mutants that are attracted to acetate, benzoate, and indole and may be repelled by alpha-aminoisobutyrate. These reversed-taxis mutants are defective in a central processing component: a set of methylated proteins known as MCP 1. The mechanism of reversal of taxis is discussed.
D000085:Acetates; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D001565:Benzoates; D002633:Chemotaxis; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D007211:Indoles; D008745:Methylation; D009154:Mutation; D011955:Receptors, Drug / Q000502:physiology
D000085:Acetates; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001565:Benzoates; D007211:Indoles; D011955:Receptors, Drug