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Volume 148, Issue 6

Mutational and transcriptional analysis of the flagellar biosynthesis gene Free

Abstract

A gene encoding a homologue of the flagellar biosynthesis gene was identified downstream of the peroxide stress defence gene . Insertional mutagenesis of the gene rendered non-motile, with most cells aflagellate, although a small number expressed truncated flagella. The absence of FlhB also appeared to affect cell shape, as the majority of cells were straight rather than curved rods. Transcription of the flagellin gene was significantly reduced in the mutants, which also did not express significant amounts of flagellin proteins, indicating that FlhB is an essential protein for subsequent expression of flagellar genes. The transcription start site of the gene, as determined by primer extension, was located 91 bp upstream of the start codon, but no recognizable promoter sequence could be identified immediately upstream of this transcription start site. Transcriptional :: reporter gene fusions confirmed that the gene has its own promoter region, is expressed at very low levels and is transcribed independently of , and that its transcription is not regulated by iron or growth phase.

  • Received:
  • Accepted:
  • Published Online:
Keyword(s): Campylobacter , motility and transcription
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2002-06-01
2024-04-23
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Mutational and transcriptional analysis of the Campylobacter jejuni flagellar biosynthesis gene flhB
Microbiology 148, 1679 (2002); https://doi.org/10.1099/00221287-148-6-1679
/content/journal/micro/10.1099/00221287-148-6-1679
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