Open AccessIdentification of Tn 10 insertions in the dsbA gene affecting Escherichia coli biofilm formation
Author(s) -
Genevaux Pierre,
Bauda Pascale,
DuBow Michael S,
Oudega Bauke
Publication year - 1999
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.1574-6968.1999.tb13532.x
Subject(s) - dsba , mutant , biofilm , escherichia coli , microbiology and biotechnology , transposable element , transposon mutagenesis , chemistry , biology , periplasmic space , gene , biochemistry , genetics , bacteria
Escherichia coli was used as model to study initial adhesion and early biofilm development to an abiotic surface. Tn 10 insertion mutants with reduced attachment to a polystyrene surface were isolated. Three adhesion mutants harbored the transposon in the dsbA gene, whose product, DsbA, catalyses folding of numerous extracytoplasmic disulfide bond‐containing proteins. All three mutants were weakly adherent and grew poorly. Cell surface structure analysis showed that motility, type 1 fimbriation and lipopolysaccharide structure were affected in these mutants. The pleiotropic effect of the dsbA mutations on biofilm formation is discussed.