Open AccessDifferentiation of Serratia liquefaciens into swarm cells is controlled by the expression of the flhD master operon
Author(s) -
Leo Eberl,
Gunna Christiansen,
Søren Molin,
Michael Givskov
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
journal of bacteriology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.652
H-Index - 246
eISSN - 1067-8832
pISSN - 0021-9193
DOI - 10.1128/jb.178.2.554-559.1996
Subject(s) - operon , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , swarming (honey bee) , serratia marcescens , serratia , bacteria , escherichia coli , gene , genetics , pseudomonas
The velocity with which a swarming colony of Serratia liquefaciens colonizes the surface of a suitable solid substratum was controlled by modulating the expression of the flhD master operon. In liquid medium, the stimulation of flhD expression resulted in filamentous, multinucleate, and hyperflagellated cells that were indistinguishable from swarm cells isolated from the edge of a swarm colony. Thus, expression of the flhD master operon appears to play a central role in the process of swarm cell differentiation.