Disruption of the gene for Met-tRNA(fMet) formyltransferase severely impairs growth of Escherichia coli.
In bacteria, as well as in chloroplasts and mitochondria, the free amino group of the methionylated initiator tRNA(fMet) is specifically modified by the addition of a formyl group. The importance of this modification remains unclear. With the availability of pure Escherichia coli 10-formyltetrahydrofolate:L-methionyl-tRNA(fMet) N-formyltransferase, the enzyme catalyzing Met-tRNA(fMet) formylation, the corresponding fmt gene and its flanking regions were cloned and sequenced. The chromosomal fmt gene was disrupted, and strains modified in their formylation activity were constructed. A depletion of the cellular formylation activity was accompanied by a decrease in the growth rate of the bacteria. At 37 degrees C, in a rich medium, the absence of a functional fmt gene reduced the growth rate to 0.28 doubling per h, from 2.3 for the control strain. At 42 degrees C, the studied fmt mutant strain did not grow further.
Guillon
J M
JM
Laboratoire de Biochimie, Unité Associée au Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique numéro 240, Ecole Polytechnique, Palaiseau, France.
Mechulam
Y
Y
Schmitter
J M
JM
Blanquet
S
S
Fayat
G
G
D000217:Acyltransferases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001483:Base Sequence; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D015723:Gene Library; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D005838:Genotype; D019877:Hydroxymethyl and Formyl Transferases; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes; D010957:Plasmids; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D015183:Restriction Mapping; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid
D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes; D019877:Hydroxymethyl and Formyl Transferases; C021561:methionyl-tRNA formyltransferase; D000217:Acyltransferases