title: Cloning of genes for bacterial glycosyltransferases. I. Selection of hybrid plasmids carrying genes for two glucosyltransferases.
abstract: A method of identifying plasmids containing genes responsible for synthesis of nucleotide sugar:lipopolysaccharide glycosyltransferases is described. Hybrid ColE1 plasmids containing random fragments of the chromosome of Escherichia coli K12 were introduced into an indicator strain of Salmonella typhimurium which lacks UDP-glucose:lipopolysaccharide glucosyltransferase I due to an rfaG mutation. Plasmids capable of correcting the transferase defect were identified by their ability to convert the bacteriophage sensitivity pattern of the recipient strain from Ffm-sensitive to Ffm-resistant. Analysis of the lipopolysaccharide of the S. typhimurium/ColE1 hybrid strains and assay of cell extracts defined the new enzyme activities. Two plasmids were identified which carried the rfaG+ gene; one of these plasmids also contained genetic information for a second glucosyltransferase, the E. coli glucosyltransferase II, which normally is not present in S. typhimurium.
mesh_terms: D004274:DNA, Recombinant / Q000378:metabolism*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics; D005796:Genes; D005838:Genotype; D005964:Glucosyltransferases / Q000235:genetics*; D006824:Hybridization, Genetic; D010957:Plasmids; D012486:Salmonella typhimurium / Q000201:enzymology; D013045:Species Specificity; D014166:Transferases / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D004274:DNA, Recombinant; D014166:Transferases; D005964:Glucosyltransferases