Genetic mapping and transcriptional orientation of the fimD gene

Expression of type 1 fimbriae in Escherichia coli exhibits phase variation whereby individual cells can alternate between states of organelle expression and nonexpression. Strains carrying fim-lac operon fusions in which lac operon expression is under the control of a fim promoter undergo Lac+ in equilibrium Lac- phase variation. We have determined the genetic map location and direction of transcription of a fim-lac operon fusion which was obtained by insertion of lac into a locus we have named fimD. We found the gene order to be as follows: valS fimD uxuA serB. The direction of transcription of fimD was found to be clockwise on the E. coli chromosome.