Two-component sensor required for normal symbiotic colonization of euprymna scolopes by Vibrio fischeri.

ABSTRACT: The light organ of the squid Euprymna scolopes is specifically colonized to a high density by the marine bacterium Vibrio fischeri. To date, only a few factors contributing to the specificity of this symbiosis have been identified. Using a genetic screen for random transposon mutants defective in initiating the symbiotic association or in colonizing the light organ to high density, we identified a mutant of V. fischeri that exhibited an apparent defect in symbiosis initiation. This mutant was not defective in motility, luminescence, or growth in minimal medium, suggesting that it lacks an essential, previously unidentified symbiotic function. By sequence analysis, we showed that the locus inactivated in this mutant encodes a predicted 927-amino-acid protein with a high degree of similarity

SUBMITTER: Visick KL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC94949 | biostudies-literature | 2001 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature