Open AccessEffect of ColV plasmids on the hydrophobicity of Escherichia coli
Author(s) -
Tewari R.,
Smith D.G.,
Rowbury R.J.
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1985.tb00870.x
Subject(s) - escherichia coli , plasmid , colicin , pilus , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , strain (injury) , bacteria , enterobacteriaceae , bacterial conjugation , chemistry , genetics , gene , anatomy
The hydrophobicity of E. coli strains carrying or lacking the colicin V ( ColV ) plasmids, ColV , I‐K94 or ColV ‐K30 was assayed. ColV + derivatives of strain 1829, produced by conjugation or transformation, were more hydrophobic than either the original 1829 parental strain or a Col ‐ derivative formed by curing 1829 ColV ‐K30 of its plasmid by an SDS/high temperature growth technique. Transfer of ColV into other E. coli strains also led to increased hydrophobicity. This effect of ColV plasmids was observed for organisms grown at 37°C; ColV + and ColV ‐ strains did not differ in hydrophobicity of grown at 21°C. This finding and other studies suggest that sex pili may be involved in the increased hydrophobicity.