Localization of P42 and F(1)-ATPase α-subunit homolog of the gliding machinery in Mycoplasma mobile revealed by newly developed gene manipulation and fluorescent protein tagging

J Bacteriol. 2014 May;196(10):1815-24. doi: 10.1128/JB.01418-13. Epub 2014 Feb 7.

Abstract

Mycoplasma mobile has a unique mechanism that enables it to glide on solid surfaces faster than any other gliding mycoplasma. To elucidate the gliding mechanism, we developed a transformation system for M. mobile based on a transposon derived from Tn4001. Modification of the electroporation conditions, outgrowth time, and colony formation from the standard method for Mycoplasma species enabled successful transformation. A fluorescent-protein tagging technique was developed using the enhanced yellow fluorescent protein (EYFP) and applied to two proteins that have been suggested to be involved in the gliding mechanism: P42 (MMOB1050), which is transcribed as continuous mRNA with other proteins essential for gliding, and a homolog of the F1-ATPase α-subunit (MMOB1660). Analysis of the amino acid sequence of P42 by PSI-BLAST suggested that P42 evolved from a common ancestor with FtsZ, the bacterial tubulin homologue. The roles of P42 and the F(1)-ATPase subunit homolog are discussed as part of our proposed gliding mechanism.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism*
  • DNA, Bacterial / genetics
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial / physiology
  • Genome, Bacterial
  • Humans
  • Luminescent Proteins / genetics
  • Luminescent Proteins / metabolism
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Movement
  • Mycoplasma / classification*
  • Mycoplasma / physiology*
  • Plasmids
  • Protein Subunits / genetics
  • Protein Subunits / metabolism*
  • Proton-Translocating ATPases / genetics
  • Proton-Translocating ATPases / metabolism*

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • DNA, Bacterial
  • Luminescent Proteins
  • Protein Subunits
  • Proton-Translocating ATPases

Associated data

  • GENBANK/AB860250