Genetic Studies ofmrp, a Locus Essential for Cellular Aggregation and Sporulation ofMyxococcus xanthus

• DOI: 10.1128/jb.183.16.4786-4795.2001
• Publication Date: 2002-07-27T10:01:09Z
• Authors: Hong Sun; Wenyuan Shi
• Keywords: Myxococcus xanthus; Response regulator; Genetic screen; Transcription; Transposon mutagenesis

ABSTRACT Under starvation conditions, Myxococcus xanthus undergoes a complex developmental process which includes cellular aggregation and sporulation. A transposon insertion mutant (the Tn 5 -Ω280 mutant) with defects in both sporulation was analyzed this study. The found to have disrupted NtrC-like response regulator designated regulatory protein B ( mrpB ). Further sequencing analyses revealed histidine kinase homolog mrpA ) immediately upstream of cyclic AMP receptor protein-like transcriptional mrpC downstream . In-frame deletion that the genes were required for but only only. Site-specific mutagenesis putative phosphorylation site MrpB, D58, showed D58A mutation caused D58E resulted defect. genetic molecular reporter reverse transcription-PCR indicated are cotranscribed is transcribed independently all these developmentally regulated. In addition, MrpB essential transcription MrpC regulates its own transcription. These data indicate Mrp proteins important components M. development. complicated interaction between may play an role regulating gene expression