A novel pH2 control on the expression of flagella in the hyperthermophilic strictly hydrogenotrophic methanarchaeaon Methanococcus jannaschii.

ABSTRACT: The methanarchaeon, Methanococcus jannaschii, a hyperthermophilic, autotrophic, and strictly hydrogenotrophic inhabitant of submarine hydrothermal vents, was cultivated in a reactor at two hydrogen partial pressure (p(H(2))) values, 178 kPa (high) and 650 Pa (ultralow), and the cells were subjected to a comparative proteome analysis. From these studies, it was discovered that, when p(H(2)) was high and the cell density was low (a combination representing a hydrogen-excess condition), the cells possessed very low or undetectable levels of four flagella-related polypeptides (FlaB2, FlaB3, FlaD, and FlaE); electron microscopic examination showed that most of these cells were devoid of flagella. Flagella synthesis occurred when hydrogen became limiting either at high cell density under high p(

SUBMITTER: Mukhopadhyay B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC17233 | biostudies-literature | 2000 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature