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. 1991 Jun;173(11):3366–3373. doi: 10.1128/jb.173.11.3366-3373.1991

Identification, characterization, and nucleotide sequence of the F17-G gene, which determines receptor binding of Escherichia coli F17 fimbriae.

P F Lintermans 1, A Bertels 1, C Schlicker 1, F Deboeck 1, G Charlier 1, P Pohl 1, M Norgren 1, S Normark 1, M van Montagu 1, H De Greve 1
PMCID: PMC207947  PMID: 1675211

Abstract

Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli strains express fimbriae which mediate binding to intestinal mucosal cells. The F17 fimbriae mediate binding to N-acetylglucosamine-containing receptors present on calf intestinal mucosal cells. These fimbriae consist of F17-A subunit peptides. Analysis of the F17 gene cluster indicated that at least the F17-A, F17-C, F17-D, and F17-G genes are indispensable to obtain adhesive F17 fimbriae (unpublished data). Genetic evidence is presented that the F17-G protein, a minor fimbrial component, is required for the binding of the F17 fimbriae to the intestinal villi. The F17-G gene was cloned and sequenced. An open reading frame of 1,032 bp encoding a polypeptide of 344 amino acids, starting with a signal sequence of 22 residues, was localized. The F17-G mutant strain produced F17 fimbriae which were morphologically identical to the fimbriae purified from strains which contained the intact F17 gene cluster. However, this F17-G mutant could no longer adhere to calf villi. The F17-G locus was shown to act in trans: transformation of the F17-G mutant strain, still expressing the genes F17-A, F17-C, and F17-D, with a vector expressing the F17-G gene restored the binding activity of this mutant strain.

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