Escherichia coli tolQ mutants are resistant to filamentous bacteriophages that adsorb to the tips, not the shafts, of conjugative pili. 1989

D E Bradley, and J Whelan
Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St John's, Canada.

The tolQ (previously fii) mutation in Escherichia coli K12 inhibits infection by filamentous bacteriophages f1 and IKe but not by RNA-containing phage f2. This work extends these observations to other plasmid-specific bacteriophages including various filamentous. RNA-containing, and lipid-containing isolates. Only tip-adsorbing filamentous phages were affected by tolQ and not shaft-adsorbing ones. Electron microscopy showed that RP4-specific filamentous phage Pf3 was one of the latter kind. Several tip-adsorbing filamentous phages inhibited conjugation between tolQ strains carrying their specific plasmids, implicating the phage receptors (conjugative pili) as mating organelles. tolQ mutant strains were as proficient as their parents in conjugation mediated by a wide range of plasmids.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D010861 Fimbriae, Bacterial Thin, hairlike appendages, 1 to 20 microns in length and often occurring in large numbers, present on the cells of gram-negative bacteria, particularly Enterobacteriaceae and Neisseria. Unlike flagella, they do not possess motility, but being protein (pilin) in nature, they possess antigenic and hemagglutinating properties. They are of medical importance because some fimbriae mediate the attachment of bacteria to cells via adhesins (ADHESINS, BACTERIAL). Bacterial fimbriae refer to common pili, to be distinguished from the preferred use of "pili", which is confined to sex pili (PILI, SEX). Bacterial Fimbriae,Bacterial Pili,Common Fimbriae,Common Pili,Pili, Bacterial,Pili, Common,Bacterial Fimbria,Bacterial Pilus,Common Fimbria,Common Pilus,Fimbria, Bacterial,Pilus, Bacterial,Fimbria, Common,Fimbriae, Common,Pilus, Common
D010957 Plasmids Extrachromosomal, usually CIRCULAR DNA molecules that are self-replicating and transferable from one organism to another. They are found in a variety of bacterial, archaeal, fungal, algal, and plant species. They are used in GENETIC ENGINEERING as CLONING VECTORS. Episomes,Episome,Plasmid
D011991 Receptors, Virus Specific molecular components of the cell capable of recognizing and interacting with a virus, and which, after binding it, are capable of generating some signal that initiates the chain of events leading to the biological response. Viral Entry Receptor,Viral Entry Receptors,Virus Attachment Factor,Virus Attachment Factors,Virus Attachment Receptor,Virus Attachment Receptors,Virus Entry Receptor,Virus Entry Receptors,Virus Receptor,Virus Receptors,Attachment Factor, Virus,Attachment Factors, Virus,Attachment Receptor, Virus,Attachment Receptors, Virus,Entry Receptor, Viral,Entry Receptor, Virus,Entry Receptors, Viral,Entry Receptors, Virus,Receptor, Viral Entry,Receptor, Virus,Receptor, Virus Attachment,Receptor, Virus Entry,Receptors, Viral Entry,Receptors, Virus Attachment,Receptors, Virus Entry
D003090 Coliphages Viruses whose host is Escherichia coli. Escherichia coli Phages,Coliphage,Escherichia coli Phage,Phage, Escherichia coli,Phages, Escherichia coli
D003227 Conjugation, Genetic A parasexual process in BACTERIA; ALGAE; FUNGI; and ciliate EUKARYOTA for achieving exchange of chromosome material during fusion of two cells. In bacteria, this is a uni-directional transfer of genetic material; in protozoa it is a bi-directional exchange. In algae and fungi, it is a form of sexual reproduction, with the union of male and female gametes. Bacterial Conjugation,Conjugation, Bacterial,Genetic Conjugation
D004926 Escherichia coli A species of gram-negative, facultatively anaerobic, rod-shaped bacteria (GRAM-NEGATIVE FACULTATIVELY ANAEROBIC RODS) commonly found in the lower part of the intestine of warm-blooded animals. It is usually nonpathogenic, but some strains are known to produce DIARRHEA and pyogenic infections. Pathogenic strains (virotypes) are classified by their specific pathogenic mechanisms such as toxins (ENTEROTOXIGENIC ESCHERICHIA COLI), etc. Alkalescens-Dispar Group,Bacillus coli,Bacterium coli,Bacterium coli commune,Diffusely Adherent Escherichia coli,E coli,EAggEC,Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli,Enterococcus coli,Diffusely Adherent E. coli,Enteroaggregative E. coli,Enteroinvasive E. coli,Enteroinvasive Escherichia coli
D005144 F Factor A plasmid whose presence in the cell, either extrachromosomal or integrated into the BACTERIAL CHROMOSOME, determines the "sex" of the bacterium, host chromosome mobilization, transfer via conjugation (CONJUGATION, GENETIC) of genetic material, and the formation of SEX PILI. Resistance Transfer Factor,Sex Factor F,Sex Factor, Bacterial,Bacterial Sex Factor,Bacterial Sex Factors,F Plasmid,F Plasmids,Factor, Bacterial Sex,Factors, Bacterial Sex,Fertility Factor, Bacterial,Sex Factors, Bacterial,Bacterial Fertility Factor,Bacterial Fertility Factors,F Factors,Factor F, Sex,Factor Fs, Sex,Factor, Bacterial Fertility,Factor, F,Factor, Resistance Transfer,Factors, Bacterial Fertility,Factors, F,Factors, Resistance Transfer,Fertility Factors, Bacterial,Fs, Sex Factor,Plasmid, F,Plasmids, F,Resistance Transfer Factors,Sex Factor Fs,Transfer Factor, Resistance,Transfer Factors, Resistance
D000327 Adsorption The adhesion of gases, liquids, or dissolved solids onto a surface. It includes adsorptive phenomena of bacteria and viruses onto surfaces as well. ABSORPTION into the substance may follow but not necessarily. Adsorptions
D012317 RNA Phages Bacteriophages whose genetic material is RNA, which is single-stranded in all except the Pseudomonas phage phi 6 (BACTERIOPHAGE PHI 6). All RNA phages infect their host bacteria via the host's surface pili. Some frequently encountered RNA phages are: BF23, F2, R17, fr, PhiCb5, PhiCb12r, PhiCb8r, PhiCb23r, 7s, PP7, Q beta phage, MS2 phage, and BACTERIOPHAGE PHI 6. Bacteriophages, RNA,Phages, RNA,Bacteriophage, RNA,Phage, RNA,RNA Bacteriophage,RNA Bacteriophages,RNA Phage

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