CsgA, an extracellular protein essential for Myxococcus xanthus development.

摘要: Abstract CsgA mutants of Myxococcus xanthus appear to be defective in producing an extracellular molecule essential for the developmental behaviors this bacterium. The csgA gene encodes a 17.7-kilodalton polypeptide whose function and cellular location were investigated with immunological probes. Large quantities CsgA product obtained from lacZ-csgA translational fusion expressed Escherichia coli. chimeric 21-kilodalton protein was purified by preparative sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Affinity-purified polyclonal antibodies raised against used determine native colloidal gold labeling transmission electron microscopy. Between 1,100 2,200 molecules per developing M. cell detected, most which associated matrix. anti-CsgA inhibited wild-type development unless they first neutralized protein. Together these results suggest that has essential, during development, possibly as pheromone.