We are interested in the function, mechanism and regulation of contact-mediated cell interactions in Myxococcus xanthus. Previous work has indicated that developmental autolysis, which occurs during fruiting body formation, is one such interaction and that cell surface polysaccharides or oligosaccharides may serve as a signal coordinating this interaction. We have raised a number of different monoclonal antibodies (MCA) against cell surface antigens of M. xanthus that block normal aggregation and development. Some of these appear to be directed against glycoprotein or polysaccharide antigens. We plan to use Fab' fragments of these blocking MCA 1) to characterize the epitopes of these cell surface antigens; 2) to help clarify the role of a group of amino sugars that seem to serve as developmental signals; 3) to identify signal receptors and 4) to select mutants deficient in signal reception and developmental autolysis. In addition, our laboratory is presently using a number of these developmental-blocking MCA as immunoaffinity reagents to isolate the corresponding cell surface proteins that presumably play a role in cell interactions. These proteins will be sequenced, and will represent the gene products of genes that will be 1) cloned, 2) subjected to site-specific mutagenesis, 3) reintroduced into M. xanthus via P1 transduction, 4) mapped using cotransduction with Tn5 inserts and 5) fused with promoterless lac to study gene expression.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01GM019957-16
Application #
3269813
Study Section
Microbial Physiology and Genetics Subcommittee 2 (MBC)
Project Start
1976-06-01
Project End
1991-05-31
Budget Start
1988-06-01
Budget End
1989-05-31
Support Year
16
Fiscal Year
1988
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Minnesota Twin Cities
Department
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
168559177
City
Minneapolis
State
MN
Country
United States
Zip Code
55455
Dworkin, M (1994) Increases in the intracellular concentration of glycerol during development in Myxococcus xanthus S. Courtney Frasch. FEMS Microbiol Lett 120:369-73
Chang, B Y; Dworkin, M (1994) Isolated fibrils rescue cohesion and development in the Dsp mutant of Myxococcus xanthus. J Bacteriol 176:7190-6
Eastman, D; Dworkin, M (1994) Endogenous ADP-ribosylation during development of the prokaryote Myxococcus xanthus. Microbiology 140 ( Pt 11):3167-76
Behmlander, R M; Dworkin, M (1994) Integral proteins of the extracellular matrix fibrils of Myxococcus xanthus. J Bacteriol 176:6304-11
Frasch, S C; Dworkin, M (1994) Increases in the intracellular concentration of glycerol during development in Myxococcus xanthus. FEMS Microbiol Lett 122:321-5
Behmlander, R M; Dworkin, M (1994) Biochemical and structural analyses of the extracellular matrix fibrils of Myxococcus xanthus. J Bacteriol 176:6295-303
Smith, D R; Dworkin, M (1994) Territorial interactions between two Myxococcus Species. J Bacteriol 176:1201-5
Mueller, C; Dworkin, M (1991) Effects of glucosamine on lysis, glycerol formation, and sporulation in Myxococcus xanthus. J Bacteriol 173:7164-75
Clemans, D L; Chance, C M; Dworkin, M (1991) A development-specific protein in Myxococcus xanthus is associated with the extracellular fibrils. J Bacteriol 173:6749-59
Kalos, M; Zissler, J (1990) Transposon tagging of genes for cell-cell interactions in Myxococcus xanthus. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 87:8316-20

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