Bod-Photobacterium phosphoreum

Gram -, Polar flagella

Bioluminescent
Often in mutalistic
relationship with
Photoblepharon
Example of Quorum
Sensing
If cro wins the "contest", PR (and PL ) are active, and lytic growth ensues
If cI wins the "contest", PRM is active, and
lysogeny ensues
 Studying Microorganisms through
Mutants
Bacteria are Haploid organisms
Study Mutants
Random mutagenesis (DMSO,IS elements)
Specific mutagensis (Transposons,
Recombination
Auxotrophs
 Cell Communication,Signal
Transduction
Transmembrane proteins
Kinases-phosphate
Regulatory proteins
Cellular activity
Can be intercellular or intracellular
 Quorum Sensing
Bacteria acting like a higher organism
Chemical information reaches a certain
concentration, triggers a response in the
cell
If timed right all organism can do the same
thing.
Examples: Infectious process Salmonella,
Staph. aureus, Bioluminescence
 Examples Global Control in Cells
System Gene Signal # genes
SOS LexA dsDNA ~20
damage
Catabolite CAP cAMP ~300
Repression

Heat Shock 32 Temp. 36

Nitrogen 54 low NH3 12

Utilization
Regulatory expression system
Transmembrane sensor-
auto kinase (Sensor
Kinase)
Response Regulator
Protein-regulates
transcription (+or -)
Phosphotase removes
phosphate
Ie. Osmotic regulation E.
coli Omp porin genes
Chemotaxis
 Antisense RNA
Use in regulating genes
 Tools to study Bacterial
Genetics
Plasmids
Transformation
Natural Competent
Making Cells Competent
Electroporation
Phage
Transduction
Conjugation
Sex plasmids (pili)