Reversion of an E-coli strain carrying an IS1-activated bgl operon under nonselective conditions is predominantly due to deletions within the structural genes

Yakkundi, A and Moorthy, S and Mahadevan, S (1998) Reversion of an E-coli strain carrying an IS1-activated bgl operon under nonselective conditions is predominantly due to deletions within the structural genes. In: Journal of Gentics, 77 (01). pp. 21-26.

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Abstract

The bgl operon of Escherichia coli, which encodes the genes necessary for transport and catabolism of beta-glucosides, is silent in wild-type cells and is activated by the transposition of IS elements. The silent form of the operon appears to be the stable state. We isolated Bgl(-) revertants of an activated strain after growth under nonselective conditions to understand whether activation of the cryptic operon by IS elements is reversible. Genetic and molecular analyses revealed that a majority of revertants carry deletions of the bgl structural genes, indicating that an irreversible alteration has occurred in the operon. Implications of these results for the evolution and maintenance of cryptic genes are discussed.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Publication:	Journal of Gentics
Publisher:	Indian Academy Of Sciences
Additional Information:	Copyright of this article belongs to Indian Academy Of Sciences.
Keywords:	cryptic genes;beta-glucoside utilization;microbial evolution.
Department/Centre:	Division of Biological Sciences > Molecular Reproduction, Development & Genetics
Date Deposited:	29 Dec 2009 07:58
Last Modified:	19 Sep 2010 05:26
URI:	http://eprints.iisc.ac.in/id/eprint/19133

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