Characterization of lambda Escherichia coli hybrids carrying chemotaxis genes

Abstract

Molecular cloning techniques were used to construct hybrid E. coli .lambda. phage and isolate Col E1 factors that carried the cheB region of the E. coli genome. The products of these genes were examined by using a series of deletions in the phage to stimulate specific polypeptide synthesis in UV-irradiated cells and by using Col factor to program protein synthesis in minicells. Seven flagellar related polypeptides were synthesized. Three of these with apparent MW of 38,000, 28,000 and 8000 were associated with the cheB region; 3 polypeptides 63,000, 61,000 and 60,000 were associated with the region that maps between cheB and cheA. These bands were referred to as the triplet group. These polypeptides are probably the same as the methyl-accepting chemotaxis protein previously described. Another polypeptide with a MW of 12,000 is associated with the cheA region, which also produces at least 3 gene products. The cheA-cheB region in E. coli is apparently complex. Further genetic and biochemical analyses are required to describe all of these products.