A CheW homologue is required for Myxococcus xanthus fruiting body development, social gliding motility, and fibril biogenesis.

ABSTRACT: In bacteria with multiple sets of chemotaxis genes, the deletion of homologous genes or even different genes in the same operon can result in disparate phenotypes. Myxococcus xanthus is a bacterium with multiple sets of chemotaxis genes and/or homologues. It was shown previously that difA and difE, encoding homologues of the methyl-accepting chemoreceptor protein (MCP) and the CheA kinase, respectively, are required for M. xanthus social gliding (S) motility and development. Both difA and difE mutants were also defective in the biogenesis of the cell surface appendages known as extracellular matrix fibrils. In this study, we investigated the roles of the CheW homologue encoded by difC, a gene at the same locus as difA and difE. We showed that difC mutations resulted in defects in M. xanthu

SUBMITTER: Bellenger K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC139594 | biostudies-literature | 2002 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature