The hook gene (flgE) is expressed from the flgBCDEF operon in Rhodobacter sphaeroides: study of an flgE mutant.

ABSTRACT: In this work we identified the flgE gene encoding the flagellar hook protein from Rhodobacter sphaeroides. Our results show that this gene is part of a flagellar cluster that includes the genes flgB, flgC, flgD, flgE, and flgF. Two different types of mutants in the flgE gene were isolated, and both showed a Fla(-) phenotype, indicating the functionality of this sequence. Complementation studies of these mutant strains suggest that flgE is included in a single transcriptional unit that starts in flgB and ends in flgF. In agreement with this possibility, a specific transcript of approximately 3.5 kb was identified by Northern blot. This mRNA is large enough to represent the complete flgBCDEF operon. FlgE showed a relatively high proline content; in particular, a region of 12 amino acids near

SUBMITTER: Ballado T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC95053 | biostudies-literature | 2001 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature