Mutational analysis of genes encoding the early flagellar components of Helicobacter pylori: evidence for transcriptional regulation of flagellin A biosynthesis.
We investigated the roles of fliF, fliS, flhB, fliQ, fliG, and fliI of Helicobacter pylori, predicted by homology to encode structural components of the flagellar basal body and export apparatus. Mutation of these genes resulted in nonmotile, nonflagellate strains. Western blot analysis showed that all the mutants had considerably reduced levels of both flagellin subunits and of FlgE, the flagellar hook protein. RNA slot blot hybridization showed reduced levels of flaA mRNA, indicating that transcription of the major flagellin gene is inhibited in the absence of the early components of the flagellar-assembly pathway. This is the first demonstration of a checkpoint in H. pylori flagellar assembly.
Allan
E
E
Pathogen Molecular Biology and Biochemistry Unit, Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, United Kingdom.
Dorrell
N
N
Foynes
S
S
Anyim
M
M
Wren
B W
BW
D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015748:Borrelia burgdorferi Group / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D005408:Flagellin / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D016297:Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006180:Proton-Translocating ATPases; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D019779:Salmonella enterica / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; C085668:FlhB protein, Bacteria; C489570:FliQ protein, E coli; C075661:Flif protein, Bacteria; C075660:Flig protein, Bacteria; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011506:Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D005408:Flagellin; C069251:fliI protein, bacteria; C074891:FliQ protein, Bacteria; C076734:FliS protein, Bacteria; D006180:Proton-Translocating ATPases