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Synchronous division induced in Escherichia coli K12 by gemts mutants of phage Mu

L Paolozzi1, A Nicosia, J C Liebart

  • 1Centro studi per gli Acidi Nucleici del C.N.R., Dipartimento di Genetica e Biologia Molecolare, Università di Roma La Sapienza, Italy.

Molecular & General Genetics : MGG
|July 1, 1989
PubMed

Insights

Bacteriophage mutant Mu c+ gemts2 infection synchronizes cell division in Escherichia coli K12 cultures. This effect, potentially linked to DNA supercoiling regulation by the Mu gene gem product, persists even with high bacterial survival rates.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Bacteriology

Background:

  • Bacterial cell division is a complex process regulated by numerous factors.
  • Bacteriophages, viruses that infect bacteria, can influence host cell physiology.
  • The Escherichia coli K12 model system is widely used to study bacterial genetics and cell division.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effect of bacteriophage mutant Mu c+ gemts2 infection on Escherichia coli K12 cell division synchrony.
  • To explore potential mechanisms underlying the observed cell division synchrony.

Main Methods:

  • Infection of Escherichia coli K12 cultures with bacteriophage mutant Mu c+ gemts2 at 42°C.
  • Observation and analysis of bacterial cell division patterns.
  • Assessment of bacterial survival rates post-infection.

Main Results:

  • Infection induced synchrony in cell division in Escherichia coli K12 cultures.
  • Synchronization persisted for several cell division cycles.
  • Synchronization was observed even at high bacterial survival rates (over 80%).

Conclusions:

  • Bacteriophage Mu c+ gemts2 infection can induce significant cell division synchrony in Escherichia coli K12.
  • The observed synchrony is not solely due to selection, suggesting an active biological mechanism.
  • The phenomenon may involve the interaction of the Mu gene gem product with bacterial DNA supercoiling regulatory systems.

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