Binding of a bacteriophage to wall-membrane adhesion in proteus mirabilis.
A bacteriophage was shown to adsorb to plasmolyzed non-swarming cells of Proteus mirabilis preferentially at the sites of adhesion between the inner membrane and outer cell wall membrane; 75% of phage particles were adsorbed at these sites, while 25% were not. Differences in outer membrane composition between swarming and non-swarming cells were reflected in altered phage-binding properties, with only 33% of phage absorbed at these adhesion sites in swarming cells. On the basis of their phage distribution, cross-sections of swarm cells could be distinguished from sections of short non-swarming cells.
D000327:Adsorption; D001435:Bacteriophages / Q000254:growth & development*; D001665:Binding Sites; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000382:microbiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000382:microbiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D011513:Proteus mirabilis / Q000166:cytology / Q000648:ultrastructure*