ISSN:
1617-4623
Keywords:
Key wordsMycobacterium smegmatis
;
Dormancy
;
Histone-like protein
;
Gene disruption
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
Notes:
Abstract The aerobic saprophyte Mycobacterium smegmatis, like its pathogenic counterpart M. tuberculosis, has the ability to adapt to anaerobiosis by shifting down to a dormant state. Here, we report the identification and molecular genetic characterisation of the first dormancy-induced protein in M. smegmatis. Comparative SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of protein extracts of aerobically growing and dormant anaerobic M. smegmatis cultures revealed the upregulation of a 27-kDa protein in the dormant state. Peptide sequencing showed that the induced protein is a homologue of the histone-like protein Hlp, predicted by the M. tuberculosis genome project. The corresponding hlp gene was cloned from M. smegmatis and sequenced. Disruption of the hlp gene eliminated the histone-like protein but did not affect the viability of the dormant culture.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s004380050919
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