Identification of genes involved in swarming motility using a Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 mini-Tn5-lux mutant library.
During a screening of a mini-Tn5-luxCDABE transposon mutant library of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 for alterations in swarming motility, 36 mutants were identified with Tn5 insertions in genes for the synthesis or function of flagellin and type IV pilus, in genes for the Xcp-related type II secretion system, and in regulatory, metabolic, chemosensory, and hypothetical genes with unknown functions. These mutants were differentially affected in swimming and twitching motility but in most cases had only a minor additional motility defect. Our data provide evidence that swarming is a more complex type of motility, since it is influenced by a large number of different genes in P. aeruginosa. Conversely, many of the swarming-negative mutants also showed an impairment in biofilm formation, indicating a strong relationship between these types of growth states.
Overhage
Joerg
J
Centre for Microbial Diseases and Immunity, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z4, Canada.
Lewenza
Shawn
S
Marr
Alexandra K
AK
Hancock
Robert E W
RE
D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D018441:Biofilms; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D010861:Fimbriae, Bacterial / Q000502:physiology; D015723:Gene Library; D005798:Genes, Bacterial / Q000502:physiology*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D009068:Movement; D009154:Mutation; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000235:genetics*
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D008565:Membrane Proteins; C089841:XcpQ protein, Pseudomonas aeruginosa; C082105:XcpU protein, Pseudomonas aeruginosa