In: Biology
What would be the predicted phenotype of an E. coli mutant that contains a mutation in the cheA gene that abolishes its autophosphorylation activity? State the predicted phenotype.
What kind of motility would it display?
Ans) Che A is histidine kinase sensor protein which gets autophosphorylated on histidine residue which then transfers the phosphate group to Che Y (response regulator) and causes phosphorylation of Che Y which then dissociates and enters in the cytosol to bind to the flagellar motor and make it rotate counterclockwise and the result of this is that the cell tumble or stops.
When Che A is mutated then there will be no autophosphorylation and thus Che Y will not be activated by phosphorylation as a result of which it will not dissociated from the receptor to bind to the flagellar motor.Thus the flagellar motor will remain to rotate counterclockwise and the result of this is that the cell will run. Thus the answer is it will RUN