title: The Product of the fimI gene is necessary for Escherichia coli type 1 pilus biosynthesis.
abstract: Site-directed mutagenesis was employed to create lesions in fimI, a gene of uncertain function located in the chromosomal gene cluster (fim) involved in Escherichia coli type 1 pilus biosynthesis. Chromosomal fimI mutations produced a piliation-negative phenotype. Complementation analysis indicated that a fimI'-kan insertion mutation and a fimI frameshift mutation produced polarity-like effects not seen with an in-frame fimI deletion mutation. Minicell analysis associated fimI with a 16.4-kDa noncytoplasmic protein product (FimI). We conclude that FimI has a required role in normal pilus biosynthesis.
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27606, USA.
authors.forename: Mary L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Valenski
authors.forename: Sandra L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: Patricia A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Spears
authors.forename: John R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Horton
authors.forename: Paul E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Orndorff
mesh_terms: D018830:Adhesins, Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D000483:Alleles; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D036781:Fimbriae Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D010861:Fimbriae, Bacterial / Q000378:metabolism*; D016368:Frameshift Mutation; D005816:Genetic Complementation Test; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016254:Mutagenesis, Insertional; D016297:Mutagenesis, Site-Directed
chemical_list: D018830:Adhesins, Escherichia coli; C099569:FimI protein, E coli; D036781:Fimbriae Proteins