Transcriptional phase variation at the flhB gene of Pseudomonas putida DOT-T1E is involved in response to environmental changes and suggests the participation of the flagellar export system in solvent tolerance.
Frameshift mutations in a poly(G) track at the flhB gene of Pseudomonas putida DOT-T1E are responsible for the diminished swimming of this strain on semisolid medium, which contrasts with the high swimming ability of P. putida KT2440, which does not exhibit a poly(G) track at the flhB gene. We previously showed that a mutant lacking FlhB was more sensitive to solvents than the wild-type strain (Segura et al., J. Bacteriol., 183:4127-4133, 2001). In this study, we show that swimming ability correlates with solvent tolerance in P. putida DOT-T1E, so that growth conditions favoring a functional flhB gene (growth on semisolid medium) resulted in increased innate tolerance to a sudden toluene shock.
Segura
Ana
A
Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Estación Experimental del Zaidín, E-18008, Granada, Spain. ana.segura@eez.csic.es
Hurtado
Ana
A
Duque
Estrella
E
Ramos
Juan L
JL
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D001483:Base Sequence; D005407:Flagella / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D016368:Frameshift Mutation; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D014644:Genetic Variation; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016958:Pseudomonas putida / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D012997:Solvents / Q000494:pharmacology; D014050:Toluene / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; C085668:FlhB protein, Bacteria; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D012997:Solvents; D014050:Toluene