Effects of heat shock upon the expression of developmentally regulated genes in Myxococcus xanthus
Document Type
Article
Date of Original Version
12-1-1990
Department
Microbiology
Abstract
The effects of heat shock upon the expression of several developmentally regulated genes of Myxococcus xanthus were examined. No effects were observed on levels or timing of developmentally regulated β-galactosidase expression in eight randomly selected Tn5lac insertion mutants. However, heat shock significantly affected the fruiting behavior of temperature-sensitive aggregation (tag) mutants of M. xanthus. The tag mutant phenotype exhibits the normal aggregation of cells to form fruiting bodies at temperatures < 34°C, but cells fail to aggregate at temperatures ≥ 34°C. Heat shock administered to tag mutant strains prior to starvation prohibited fruiting body formation at permissive temperatures. Additionally, tag mutant strains were found to be extremely sensitive to killing at 40°C. Heat shock was also found to increase tagA and tagE expression by 22 and 47%, respectively. Mutations in tagA blocked heat shock induced expression of tagE. © 1990.
Publication Title, e.g., Journal
FEMS Microbiology Letters
Volume
74
Issue
2-3
Citation/Publisher Attribution
Britt, Deborah, and David R. Nelson. "Effects of heat shock upon the expression of developmentally regulated genes in Myxococcus xanthus." FEMS Microbiology Letters 74, 2-3 (1990): 165-174. doi: 10.1016/0378-1097(90)90551-Z.