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. 1977 Oct;132(1):254–261. doi: 10.1128/jb.132.1.254-261.1977

Ribonucleic Acid Polymerase Mutant of Escherichia coli Defective in Flagella Formation

T Yamamori 1, K Ito 1, T Yura 1, T Suzuki 2, T Iino 2
PMCID: PMC221851  PMID: 199575

Abstract

Escherichia coli K-12 mutants that are resistant to bacteriophage χ, defective in motility, and unable to grow at high temperature (42°C) were isolated from among those selected for rifampin resistance at low temperature (30°C) after mutagenesis with N-methyl-N′-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine. Genetic analysis of one such mutant indicated the presence of two mutations that probably affect the β subunit of ribonucleic acid (RNA) polymerase: one (rif) causing rifampin resistance and the other (Ts-74) conferring resistance to phage χ (and loss of motility) and temperature sensitivity for growth. Observations with an electron microscope revealed that the number of flagella per mutant cell was significantly reduced, suggesting that the Ts-74 mutation somehow affected flagella formation at the permissive temperature. When a mutant culture was transferred from 30 to 42°C, deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis accelerated normally, but RNA or protein synthesis was enhanced relatively little. The rate of synthesis of β and β′ subunits of RNA polymerase was low even at 30°C and was further reduced at 42°C, in contrast to the parental wild-type strain. Expression of the lactose and other sugar fermentation operons, as well as lysogenization with phage λ, occurred normally at 30°C, suggesting that the mutation does not cause general shut-off of gene expression regulated by cyclic adenosine 3′,5′-monophosphate.

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These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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