Aggregation of mycobacteria caused by disruption of fibronectin-attachment protein-encoding gene.
The fibronectin-attachment protein (FAP) is conserved among several species of mycobacteria. Although this protein is associated with attachment and internalization of bacteria to host cells via fibronectin, the physiological role of the protein still remains unclear. To investigate this point, we generated FAP gene disruptant in Mycobacterium smegmatis. The gene disruption, verified by Southern blot and PCR analysis, induced changes on the bacteria, which are associated with strong aggregation and alteration of cell surface properties. Increased hydrophobicity and Congo red accumulation was observed in the FAP gene disruptant. In addition, the complementation experiment demonstrated that the corresponding gene restored wild type morphology in the disruptant. These results indicate that the FAP affects the cell surface properties, and its deletion lead to enhanced aggregation of the M. smegmatis.
Miyamoto
Yuji
Y
Department of Microbiology, Leprosy Research Center, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, 4-2-1 Aobacho, Higashimurayama, Tokyo 189-0002, Japan.
Mukai
Tetsu
T
Takeshita
Fumihiko
F
Nakata
Noboru
N
Maeda
Yumi
Y
Kai
Masanori
M
Makino
Masahiko
M
D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion; D003224:Congo Red / Q000378:metabolism; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000378:metabolism; D017353:Gene Deletion; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D005816:Genetic Complementation Test; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D008055:Lipids / Q000032:analysis; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016254:Mutagenesis, Insertional; D009154:Mutation; D020102:Mycobacterium smegmatis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D013499:Surface Properties
D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial; D005353:Fibronectins; D008055:Lipids; D003224:Congo Red