title: FrzCD, a methyl-accepting taxis protein from Myxococcus xanthus, shows modulated methylation during fruiting body formation.
abstract: The frizzy (frz) genes of Myxococcus xanthus are required to control directed motility during vegetative growth and fruiting body formation. FrzCD, a protein homologous to the methyl-accepting chemotaxis proteins from enteric bacteria, is modified by methylation in response to environmental conditions. Transfer of cells from rich medium to fruiting medium initially caused rapid demethylation of FrzCD. Subsequently, the amount of FrzCD increased, but most remained unmethylated. At about the time of mound formation (9 h), most of the FrzCD was converted to methylated forms. Dispersal of developing cells (10 h) in buffer led to the demethylation of FrzCD, whereas concentration of these cells caused methylation of FrzCD. Some mutants which were unable to form fruiting bodies still modified their FrzCD during incubation under conditions of starvation on a surface.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley 94720.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: McBride
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Zusman
mesh_terms: D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005798:Genes, Bacterial / Q000502:physiology; D008745:Methylation; D009154:Mutation / Q000502:physiology; D016941:Myxococcus xanthus / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; C065626:FrzCD protein, Myxococcus xanthus