Open AccessAntigen 43, a phase‐variable bipartite outer membrane protein, determines colony morphology and autoaggregation in Escherichia coli K‐12
Author(s) -
Henderson Ian R,
Meehan Mary,
Owen Peter
Publication year - 1997
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.1574-6968.1997.tb10317.x
Subject(s) - phase variation , escherichia coli , biology , bacterial outer membrane , microbiology and biotechnology , enterobacteriaceae , antigen , gene , antigenic variation , genetics , virulence
The product controlling colony form variation and autoaggregation in Escherichia coli K‐12 (the flu gene product) has been identified as the phase‐variable, bipartite, outer membrane protein, termed antigen 43 (Ag43). Identification is based: (i) on complete correlation in authentic flu variants between colony morphology/autoaggregation and Ag43 expression as determined by colony and Western immunoblotting and immunofluorescence microscopy; and (ii) on the use of a specific probe to map the gene encoding Ag43 to a position (min 43) on the E. coli chromosome previously established for flu .