FIG. 5.

TCA cycle inactivation increases PIA accumulation. (A) Relative amounts of cell-associated PIA were determined using a PIA immunoblot assay for S. epidermidis strains 1457, 1457-acnA, 1457-sigB, 1457-sarA, 1457-icaR, and 1457-acnA containing pMRS2 (1457-acnA + pMRS2). To determine the relative amounts of PIA, we defined the amount of PIA produced by strain 1457 at 2 h in one experiment as 100% and expressed all other amounts as relative to the amount at this 2-h point. The results are presented as the means plus standard errors of the means (error bars) for three independent experiments. (B) Representative immunoblot used for determining spot volumes. Strain 1457-Δica, which does not synthesize PIA, was used to determine the background density.