Pd. Cotter et al., Analysis of the role of the Listeria monocytogenes F0F1-ATPase operon in the acid tolerance response, INT J F MIC, 60(2-3), 2000, pp. 137-146
As little is known about the genes involved in the induction of an acid tol
erance response in Listeria monocytogenes, the role of the F0F1-ATPase was
analyzed as a consequence of its role in the acid tolerance of a number of
other bacteria and its conserved nature. It was found that acid adapted cel
ls treated with N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCD) exhibited greatly enha
nced sensitivity to low pH stress. Degenerate primers were designed to ampl
ify and sequence a portion of the atpD gene. Subsequently, a PCR product fr
om atpA to atpD was identified. While we were unable to create a deletion i
n the atpA gene, the plasmid pORI19 was inserted in a region between atpA a
nd atpG to reduce, rather than eliminate, expression of the downstream gene
s. As expected this mutant displayed enhanced resistance to neomycin and ex
hibited slower growth than the wild type strain. This mutant could still in
duce an acid tolerance response and remained susceptible to DCCD treatment,
but its relative acid sensitivity was difficult to assess as a consequence
of its slow growth. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.