%0 Journal Article %A Delaney, John M. %T A grpE mutant of Escherichia coli is more resistant to heat than the wild-type %D 1990 %J Microbiology, %V 136 %N 5 %P 797-801 %@ 1465-2080 %R https://doi.org/10.1099/00221287-136-5-797 %I Microbiology Society, %X The grpE gene of Escherichia coli is essential for bacteriophage λ DNA replication and is also necessary for host RNA and DNA synthesis at high temperature. A grpE mutant of E. coli was found to be substantially more resistant to 50°C heat treatment than the wild-type. Upon receiving a 42°C heat shock for 15 min, both the wild-type and the grpE mutant became more resistant to heat (i.e. they became thermotolerant). A grpE + revertant behaved similarly to the wild-type in that it was more sensitive to heat than grpE cells. In addition, grpE cells had the same H2O2 and UV sensitivity as the wild-type. This implies that the conditions for which a grpE mutation is beneficial are unique to heat exposure and are not caused by H2O2 or UV exposure. Furthermore, synthesis of heat-shock proteins occurred sooner in the grpE mutant than in the wild-type, indicating that the grpE gene of E. coli may influence the regulation of the heat-shock response. %U https://www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/micro/10.1099/00221287-136-5-797