The goal of this research is to identify and characterize the genes involved in the unique surface-inducible inhibition of septation associated with swarmer cell differentiation in Proteus mirabilis. Initial experiments will to provide an initial understanding of the molecular mechanisms that allows Proteus to inhibit cellular septation as a consequence of surface-induced swarmer cell differentiation. To do so, surface-induced elo genes will be cloned from P. mirabillis using previously constructed Tn5 insertions. Selected elo genes will be characterized by nucleotide sequence analysis and possible homology to the DNA sequence of known E. coli morphogenes determined. The 5' upstream regulatory region of select elo genes will be examined to identify putative sites controlling gene expression. Lastly, transcriptional fusions between selected elo genes and promoterless luciferase genes will be constructed so that elo gene expression can be measured in P. mirabilis. %%% The significance of this research lies in the uniqueness of the control of elo gene expression. The environmental regulator controlling septation (formation of two cells from one) in E. coli is currently unknown. Using P. mirabilis as a model, it may be possible to provide the missing data needed to understanding the regulation of septation in E. coli.
