The lipopolysaccharide of recipient cells is a specific receptor for PilV proteins, selected by shufflon DNA rearrangement, in liquid matings with donors bearing the R64 plasmid.
Shufflon DNA rearrangement selects one of seven PilV proteins with different C-terminal segments, which then becomes a minor component of the thin pili of Escherichia coli strains bearing the plasmid R64. The PilV proteins determine the recipient specificity in liquid matings. A recipient Escherichia coli K-12 strain was specifically recognized by the PilVA', -C, and -C' proteins, while E. coli B was recognized only by the PilVA' protein. To identify specific PilV receptors in the recipient bacterial cells, R64 liquid matings were performed using various E. coli K-12 waa (rfa) mutants and E. coli B transformants as recipient cells. E. coli K-12 waa mutants lack receptors for specific PilV proteins. E. coli B cells carrying waaJ or waaJKL genes of E. coli K-12 were recognized by donors expressing the PilVC' protein or the PilVC and -C' proteins, respectively, in addition to the PilVA' protein. Addition of E. coli K-12 or B lipopolysaccharide (LPS) specifically inhibited liquid matings. We conclude that the PilV proteins of the thin pili of R64-bearing donors recognize LPS molecules located on the surface of various recipient bacterial cells in liquid matings.
Ishiwa
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A
Department of Biology, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Hachioji, Japan.
Komano
T
T
D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D003227:Conjugation, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D010861:Fimbriae, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D008957:Models, Genetic; D009154:Mutation; D010957:Plasmids / Q000235:genetics
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; C077573:PilV protein, Bacteria