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. 1977 Nov;74(11):5104–5108. doi: 10.1073/pnas.74.11.5104

Cell--cell interactions in conjugating Escherichia coli: role of traT protein in surface exclusion.

M Achtman, N Kennedy, R Skurray
PMCID: PMC432108  PMID: 337311

Abstract

Escherichia coli cells carrying the F sex factor are poor recipients in conjugation. This phenomenon is called surface exclusion. Two F cistrons, traS and traT, are independently responsible for part of the whole mechanism. The traS gene product reduces DNA transfer within stable mating aggregates. The traT gene product, pTraT, results in a greatly reduced ability to form stable mating aggregates, and thus also leads to reduced DNA transfer within the cell population. pTraT is a 25,000-dalton protein incorporated into the cell envelope outer membrane. It is found in 29,000-84,000 copies per cell, depending on the plasmid expressing it. There is a parallel variation in recipient ability. Models for surface exclusion are discussed.

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Selected References

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

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