Open AccessInactivation of the Flagellin Gene flaA in Magnetospirillum gryphiswaldense Results in Nonmagnetotactic Mutants Lacking Flagellar Filaments
Author(s) -
Daniel Schultheiss,
Michael Kube,
Dirk Schüler
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
applied and environmental microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.552
H-Index - 324
eISSN - 1070-6291
pISSN - 0099-2240
DOI - 10.1128/aem.70.6.3624-3631.2004
Subject(s) - magnetotactic bacteria , magnetosome , flagellin , flagellum , biology , gene , transposon mutagenesis , mutagenesis , mutant , genome , genetics , transposable element , bacteria
Magnetotactic bacteria synthesize magnetosomes, which cause them to orient and migrate along magnetic field lines. The analysis of magnetotaxis and magnetosome biomineralization at the molecular level has been hindered by the unavailability of genetic methods, namely the lack of a means to introduce directed gene-specific mutations. Here we report a method for knockout mutagenesis by homologous recombination in Magnetospirillum gryphiswaldense. Multiple flagellin genes, which are unlinked in the genome, were identified in M. gryphiswaldense. The targeted disruption of the flagellin gene flaA was shown to eliminate flagella formation, motility, and magnetotaxis. The techniques described in this paper will make it possible to take full advantage of the forthcoming genome sequences of M. gryphiswaldense and other magnetotactic bacteria.