Generation of Mini-Tn10 transposon insertion mutant library of Bacillus thuringiensis for the investigation of genes required for its bacteriocin production

FEMS Microbiol Lett. 2009 May;294(2):141-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1574-6968.2009.01559.x.

Abstract

Bacillus thuringiensis strain BUPM4 is known for its ability to produce a bacteriocin, called Bacthuricin F4 (BF4), which inhibits the growth of several Gram-positive bacteria and particularly Bacillaceae. This study aimed to use the insertional transposon mutagenesis approach for disrupting and thus identifying genes associated with BF4 synthesis. Here, the mini-Tn10 transposon was used to generate a library of B. thuringiensis mutants. Twenty thousand clones were screened for the search of mutants with affected bacteriocin synthesis. By molecular hybridization, it was demonstrated that the mini-Tn10 transposition occurred in different sites. Clone MB1, containing a mini-Tn10 single-copy insertion, lost the BF4 synthesis, but maintained its immunity to BF4. The flanking sequences surrounding the mini-Tn10 insertion were cloned and sequenced. Homology searches of the surrounding ORFs revealed a strong similarity to a phage tail component, which allowed us to postulate that BUPM4 bacteriocin could be a phage tail-like one.

Publication types

  • Letter
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bacillus thuringiensis / genetics*
  • Bacillus thuringiensis / metabolism
  • Bacillus thuringiensis / virology
  • Bacteriocin Plasmids / isolation & purification
  • Bacteriocins / biosynthesis*
  • Bacteriocins / chemistry
  • Bacteriocins / genetics*
  • Bacteriophages / chemistry
  • Bacteriophages / genetics
  • DNA Transposable Elements*
  • DNA, Bacterial / analysis
  • Gene Library*
  • Genes, Bacterial / physiology*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Mutagenesis, Insertional*
  • Open Reading Frames
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid

Substances

  • Bacteriocins
  • DNA Transposable Elements
  • DNA, Bacterial

Associated data

  • GENBANK/FJ499396