Study findings from University of Georgia, Research Center provide new insights into bacteriology
2007 NOV 13 -- Investigators publish new data in the report 'Proteins associated with the Myxococcus xanthus extracellular matrix.' "Fruiting body formation of Myxococcus xanthus, like biofilm formation of many other organisms, involves the production of an extracellular matrix (ECM). While the polysaccharide component has been studied, the protein component has been largely unexplored," scientists in the United States report. "Proteins associated with the ECM were solubilized from purified ECM by boiling with sodium dodecyl sulfate and were identified by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry of tryptic fragments. The ECM is enriched in proteins of novel function; putative functions were assigned for only 5 of the 21 proteins. Thirteen putative ECM proteins had lipoprotein secretion signals. The genes for many ECM proteins were disrupted in the wild-type (WT), fibA, and pilA backgrounds. Disruption of the MXAN4860 gene had no effect in the WT or fibA background but in the pilA background resulted in a 24-h delay in aggregation and sporulation compared to its parent," wrote P.D. Curtis and colleagues, University of Georgia, Research Center. The researchers concluded: "The results of this study show that the M. xanthus ECM proteome is diverse and novel." Curtis and colleagues published their study in the Journal of Bacteriology (Proteins associated with the Myxococcus xanthus extracellular matrix. Journal of Bacteriology, 2007;189(21):7634-42). For additional information, contact P.D. Curtis, University of Georgia, Dept. of Microbiology, Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, Athens, Georgia 30602 USA.. The publisher's contact information for the Journal of Bacteriology is: American Society Microbiology, 1752 N St. NW, Washington, DC 20036-2904, USA. Keywords: United States, Athens, Bacteriology, Diagnosis, Diagnostics. This article was prepared by Life Science Weekly editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2007, Life Science Weekly via NewsRx.com.
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