FIG 4.

The Rcs phosphorelay is activated in CL deficient cells. (A) We used qPCR to measure activation of 5 major envelope stress pathways in ΔclsABC (Δcls) cells. The relative abundance of transcripts of the Rcs-controlled genes cpsB and cpsG was ∼20-fold higher in Δcls than in wild-type MG1655 cells. Bae (mdtA and acrD), Psp (pspA and pspC), sigma E (degP), and Cpx (cpxP and degP) signaling pathways were not significantly activated (0.5 ≤ relative quantification [RQ] ≤ 2). Error bars indicate standard deviation. (B) Crystal violet staining of Δcls mutants and Δrcs mutants in a Δcls background. Error bars indicate standard error; ***, P < 0.001; Student’s t test compared with Δcls cells.