title: Detection and identification of FaeC as a minor component of K88 fibrillae of Escherichia coli.
abstract: A tribrid gene containing ompF, faeC, and lacZ sequences was constructed by subcloning a large central segment of the K88ab gene encoding the fibrillar subunit-like protein FaeC into the open reading frame expression vector pORF2. The resulting tribrid protein was isolated and used to raise antibodies against the FaeC protein. These antibodies were then used for the detection and subcellular localization of the FaeC protein in Escherichia coli harbouring the K88ab-encoding plasmid pFM205 or mutant derivatives. Immunoblotting of subcellular fractions and of purified fibrillae, and agglutination experiments using whole cells revealed that the FaeC protein is present in the periplasm and as a minor component in the K88ab fibrillae. FaeC was also detected in purified K88ac and K88ad fibrillae. Immunoelectron microscopy confirmed the presence of FaeC in K88ab fibrillae, particularly at the tips of the longer fibrillae.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Microbiology, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Oudega
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de Graaf
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: de Boer
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bakker
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Vader
authors.forename: F R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Mooi
authors.forename: F K
authors.initials: FK
authors.lastname: de Graaf
mesh_terms: D000371:Agglutination; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics*; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000235:genetics*; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D036781:Fimbriae Proteins; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D009154:Mutation; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D010957:Plasmids; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; C026888:K88 antigen, E coli; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D036781:Fimbriae Proteins