title: Analysis of lambda insertions in the fucose utilization region of Escherichia coli K-12: use of lambda fuc and lambda argA transducing bacteriophages to partially order the fucose utilization genes.
abstract: Escherichia coli K-12 strains have deletions for the normal lambda integration site were lysogenized with bacteriophage lambda at a site within the L-fucose utilization system (fuc). The frequency of lambda integration at this site is approximately 2 X 10(-8) to 5 X 10(-7). Studies of the lytic properties of these strains indicated very infrequent cell lysis with a relatively low phage burst size. Transductional ability of the phage lysates was found to be normal, comparable to that found in conventional low-frequency transducing lysates. Two major classes of transducing phage were found. One carried the markers argA and fucA (a fucose utilization gene of unknown function previously referred to as fuc-1) and the gene for D-arabinose utilization (dar+). The other carried only fucC, the gene specifying L-fuculose-1-phosphate aldolase. A minor class of phage was found that carried fucA, but not argA or dar+. Upon consideration of the transductional nature of these phage classes, we are proposing that the gene order for the L-fucose utilization system is dar, fucA, (lambda), fucC.
mesh_terms: D000446:Aldehyde-Lyases / Q000235:genetics; D001089:Arabinose / Q000378:metabolism; D010582:Bacteriophage lambda / Q000235:genetics*; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D002876:Chromosomes, Bacterial; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005643:Fucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D008242:Lysogeny; D014161:Transduction, Genetic
chemical_list: D005643:Fucose; D001089:Arabinose; D000446:Aldehyde-Lyases; C036027:L-fuculosephosphate aldolase