Genetic transformation of a halophilic archaebacterium with a gas vesicle gene cluster restores its ability to float.
The halophilic archaebacterium, Halobacterium halobium, and many other aquatic bacteria synthesize gas-filled vesicles for flotation. We recently identified a cluster of 13 genes (gvpMLKJIHGFEDACN) on a 200-kb H. halobium plasmid, pNRC100, involved in gas vesicle synthesis. We have cloned and reconstructed the gvp gene cluster on an H. halobium-E. coli shuttle plasmid. Transformation of H. halobium Vac- mutants lacking the entire gas vesicle gene region with the gvp gene cluster results in restoration of their ability to float. These results open the way toward further genetic analysis of gas vesicle gene functions and directed flotation of other microorganisms with potential biotechnological applications.
Halladay
J T
JT
Department of Microbiology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst 01003.
Ng
W L
WL
DasSarma
S
S
D019843:Archaeal Proteins; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D004926:Escherichia coli; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D019617:Halobacterium salinarum / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D005810:Multigene Family; D010957:Plasmids; D011506:Proteins; D014169:Transformation, Bacterial
D019843:Archaeal Proteins; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011506:Proteins; C038524:gas vesicle protein