Sensory Mechanisms Controlling Bacterial Bioluminescence
Abstract
The goal of this project was to explore the sensory mechanisms which control the expression of bioluminescence in the marine bacterium Vibrio harveyi. Genetic methods were used to discover the genes which encode functions for the production of extracellular, chemical signals (autoinducers) and for the synthesis of proteins which mediate the response to such signals. A mutant defective in the production of one class of autoinducers was isolated. The gene or genes defective in this mutant were not isolated, but this mutant should be useful for future work to identify specific signaling functions. Another gene, luxT, which is important for transcription of the luxT genes encoding the luminescence enzymes, was cloned and sequenced. Further work to understand its precise role must still be done.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 1999
- Accession Number
- ADA363867
Entities
People
- Michael R. Silverman