Unraveling the Role of the Rssc Gene of Serratia
Resource
MICROSCOPY AND MICROANALYSIS v.16 n.6 pp.755-763
Journal
MICROSCOPY AND MICROANALYSIS
Journal Volume
v.16
Journal Issue
n.6
Pages
755-763
Date Issued
2010
Date
2010
Author(s)
SHEU, BOR-CHING
LIN, CHIH-CHEN
LEE, SHIH-YUAN
LAI, HSIN-CHIH
TSAI, JUI-CHANG
LIN, SHIMING
Abstract
The product and direct role of the rssC gene of Serratia marcescens is unknown. For unraveling the role of the rssC gene, atomic force microscopy has been used to identify the surfaces of intact S. marcescens wild-type CH-1 cells and rssC mutant CH-1 Delta C cells. The detailed surface topographies were directly visualized, and quantitative measurements of the physical properties of the membrane structures were provided. CH-1 and CH-1 Delta C cells were observed before and after treatment with lysozyme , and their topography-related parameters, e.g., a valley-to-peak distance , mean height, surface roughness, and surface root- mean-square values, were defined and compared. The data obtained suggest that the cellular surface topography of mutant CH-1 Delta C becomes rougher and more precipitous than that of wild-type CH-1 cells. Moreover, it was found that , compared with native wild-type CH-1, the cellular surface topography of lysozyme-treated CH-1 was not changed profoundly. The product of the rssC gene is thus predicted to be mainly responsible for fatty-acid biosynthesis of the S. marcescens outer membrane. This study represents the first direct observation of the structural changes in membranes of bacterial mutant cells and offers a new prospect for predicting gene expression in bacterial cells.
Subjects
Serratia marcescens
atomic force microscopy (AFM)
rssC gene
topography