Glycerol 3-phosphate inhibits swarming and aggregation of Myxococcus xanthus.
We have cloned a gene of Myxococcus xanthus with similarities to the permease for glycerol 3-phosphate (G3P) of other bacteria. Expression of the gene increased significantly during the first hours of starvation. Swarming of the wild-type strain was inhibited and aggregation was delayed by G3P. Conversely, a DeltaglpT strain aggregated even on rich medium. These results indicate that G3P may function to regulate the timing of aggregation in M. xanthus.
Moraleda-Muñoz
A
A
Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain.
Carrero-Lérida
J
J
Extremera
A L
AL
Arias
J M
JM
Muñoz-Dorado
J
J
D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D005994:Glycerophosphates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009024:Morphogenesis / Q000187:drug effects; D009068:Movement / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D016941:Myxococcus xanthus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D010641:Phenotype
D005994:Glycerophosphates; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; C029620:alpha-glycerophosphoric acid