Bio560 Literature Discussion Questions

Bio560 Literature Discussion Questions 5/10/01

Ji et al1995. Cell density control of Staphylococcal virulence mediated by an octapeptide pheromone. PNAS 92:12055.

1. In Figure 1, what is the purpose of using RNAIII-blaZ transcriptional fusion? Please define transcriptional fusion.

2. What experiments did the authors do to confirm the activator requires the two-component system, AgrC and AgrA, to mediate the cellular response?

3. What made the authors think that the AgrC is the sensor component? Are there any other approaches you may suggest to prove that AgrC is a sensor component?

4. How did the authors learn that the activator pheromone cumulated in the media is a protein in nature?

Lin, Spring 2001