rpoS基因缺失突变对荧光假单胞菌胁迫耐受性、群体感应及腐败活性的影响

【目的】微生物活动是引起食品腐败的主要原因,研究食品腐败菌的腐败作用调控机制对于保证食品的质量和安全具有重要意义。荧光假单胞菌是一种代表性的食品腐败菌,本文旨在研究RNA聚合酶的选择性sigma因子Rpo S在荧光假单胞菌致腐败过程中的作用。【方法】运用同源重组的方法构建荧光假单胞菌冷藏鱼分离株的rpo S基因缺失突变株,比较野生型和突变株暴露于不同胁迫条件下的存活率;通过液相色谱-串联质谱(LC-MS/MS)分析野生型和突变株产生高丝氨酸内酯类(AHLs)群体感应信号分子的种类和含量;检测野生型和突变株接种于灭菌三文鱼汁后4°C贮存过程中的菌落总数和挥发性盐基氮的生成量。【结果】成功构建了荧光假单胞菌rpo S基因缺失突变株。rpo S基因的缺失导致荧光假单胞菌对10 mmol/L H2O2和15%乙醇的耐受性显著降低,对150μg/m L结晶紫和175 mmol/L醋酸的耐受性有一定程度增强,不影响其对47°C和20%Na Cl的耐受性。荧光假单胞菌在rpo S基因缺失突变后长链信号分子C_(10)-HSL、C_(12)-HSL和C_(14)-HSL的含量增加。在灭菌三文鱼汁中的腐败活性检测表明rpo S基因缺失可导致荧光假单胞菌挥发性盐基氮的生成量显著降低。【结论】荧光假单胞菌的Rpo S不仅调节细菌对多种胁迫条件的耐受性,还影响AHL群体感应和腐败活性。     

绿针假单胞菌HT66中ompR基因的功能

【背景】植物根部存在大量对植物生长有促进或对病原菌有拮抗作用的有益细菌,是当前农业微生物研究的热点之一。其中,绿针假单胞菌HT66是一株可高效合成吩嗪-1-甲酰胺(PCN)的环境友好型生防菌株。【目的】探究在绿针假单胞菌HT66中ompR基因的生理功能,以及其对菌株生防作用的影响。【方法】通过基因无痕敲除的方法构建HT66菌株的ompR基因缺失突变株,对比研究突变株与野生株在生长速率、渗透压感应、生物膜的合成、pH耐受性、群集运动和PCN产量的变化。【结果】与野生株相比,ompR基因缺失突变株的细胞生物量微量减少,生物膜的合成减少31.5%,群集运动以及对渗透压和pH的耐受性明显下降,但是其PCN产量较野生株提高了57.8%。【结论】在HT66菌株中,ompR基因对其运动性、环境耐受性和生理生防功能均有一定程度的调控作用。本研究丰富了绿针假单胞菌的代谢通路,此报道将对后续PCN合成机制的研究和应用提供一定的理论依据。     

细菌群体感应参与铜绿假单胞菌胞内聚羟基脂肪酸酯合成的调控

群体感应是细菌根据细胞密度变化调控基因表达的一种调节机制。铜绿假单胞菌中QS系统由lasI和rhlI合成的信号分子3OC12-HSL和C4-HSL以及各自的受体蛋白LasR、RhlR组成,它们以级联方式调控多个基因表达。【目的】研究细菌群体感应(QS)对聚羟基脂肪酸酯合成的调控。【方法】利用铜绿假单胞菌PAO1及其QS突变株为材料通过气相色谱、荧光定量PCR在生理和分子水平上研究QS对聚羟基脂肪酸酯合成的调控。【结果】QS信号分子合成抑制剂阿奇霉素处理铜绿假单胞菌PAO1和QS突变株导致胞内PHA积累量显著减少;铜绿假单胞菌PAO1中C4-HSL合成酶基因rhlI缺失突变株PAO210胞内PHA积累量与野生型无差别;而3OC12-HSL合成酶基因lasI缺失突变株PAO55、3OC12-HSL受体合成酶基因lasR缺失突变株PAO56以及lasI/lasR双缺失突变株PAO57胞内PHA含量与野生型相比明显减少;lasI和lasR的突变株体内PHA合成酶基因phaC1的表达量显著降低,信号分子3OC12-HSL回补实验使phaC1的表达量可恢复到野生株水平,但只可部分恢复lasI缺失导致的胞内PHA合成。【结论】由此推测,铜绿假单胞菌群体感应系统中lasI/lasR系统参与胞内聚羟基脂肪酸酯合成的调控。     

不同动物肠道优势需氧菌对黄豆苷原转化菌株转化能力的影响

摘要: 【目的】探讨不同动物肠道优势需氧菌对黄豆苷原转化菌株转化能力的影响。【方法】有氧条件下,采用稀释涂布法分别从ICR 小鼠、芦花鸡、长白猪和獭兔等4 种健康动物肠道中分离优势需氧菌,将不同动物的优势需氧菌分别与不同类型黄豆苷原转化菌株进行厌氧混合培养,高效液相色谱检测培养液中黄豆苷原的转化情况。【结果】16S rRNA 基因序列分析,结合形态学及相关理化特性分析表明,分离的22 株优势需氧菌分属埃希氏菌属(10 株) 、变形菌属(5 株) 、肠球菌属(4 株) 、芽胞杆菌属(2 株) 和假单胞菌属(     

活性污泥微生物解壳聚糖松江菌中菌胶团形成相关大型基因簇的鉴定和分析

【背景】活性污泥法已广泛应用于城市污水和工业废水的处理,微生物菌胶团的形成在污泥通过重力沉淀实现泥水分离和污泥回用的过程中起着重要作用。从西安北石桥污水处理厂活性污泥中分离到一株菌胶团形成菌XHY-A6,经鉴定为解壳聚糖松江菌(Mitsuariachitosanitabida)。【目的】旨在揭示该株解壳聚糖松江菌菌胶团形成相关的基因及其菌胶团形成机制。【方法】结合分子遗传学,包括转座子插入突变技术和遗传互补分析以及基因组学方法分析与菌胶团形成相关的基因和基因簇。【结果】通过转座子插入突变技术获得了两株菌胶团形成缺陷的突变株,转座子插入位点在糖基转移酶(称为gt3)和多糖链长决定蛋白(wzz)基因内,且这两个基因位于一个与菌胶团形成相关的大型基因簇内,该基因簇内还包括与胞外多糖生物合成和分泌相关的基因、epsB2-prsK-psrR-prsT基因以及一个编码PEP-CTERM蛋白A的基因,遗传互补分析证明gt3基因、wzz基因及其下游wzc基因在菌胶团形成过程中是必需的。【结论】松江菌中菌胶团形成和调控机制极可能与活性污泥优势菌动胶菌(Zoogloea)非常相似,即由胞外多糖和PEP-CTERM家族胞外蛋白质共同介导。从武汉二郎庙、汤逊湖和深圳南山污水处理厂活性污泥中分离纯化出松江菌,这些松江菌属细菌可以用于富含几丁质和壳聚糖的市政污水和虾蟹类食品加工废水的净化和资源化利用。     

单增李斯特菌毒力因子溶血素关键氨基酸位点在感染过程中的作用研究

【目的】探究单增李斯特菌溶血素O (listeriolysin O, LLO)中D3区域β8折叠片上第253位氨基酸(谷氨酰胺,Q)和第254位氨基酸(异亮氨酸,I)对单增李斯特菌(Listeria monocytogenes)感染生物学功能的影响。【方法】构建LLO_Q253A和LLO_I254A突变蛋白的原核表达菌株,以及利用同源重组方法构建hly_Q253A和hly_I254A突变株;通过表达纯化突变蛋白,测定溶血活性;比较LLO第253位Q和第254位I均突变成丙氨酸(A)后,对细菌体外生长能力、黏附侵袭、胞内迁移和增殖能力的影响。【结果】相应位点突变后,LLO蛋白均能够正常表达。在pH 6.5条件下,所有突变蛋白和突变株的溶血活性丧失。然而,在pH 5.5条件下,LLO_I254A和hly_I254A恢复了溶血活性。与野生株相比,突变株的体外生长、黏附能力和胞内增殖能力均无明显差异;突变株的侵袭能力和胞间迁移能力显著低于野生株。【结论】本研究证实第253位Q和第254位I均突变成A后,单增李斯特菌在pH 6.5条件下丧失溶血活性,并降低了感染宿主细胞的能力,但具体机制还有待进一步探索。本研究为深入探究LLO结构对单增李斯特菌生物学功能的影响奠定基础,对单增李斯特菌点突变株的构建具有一定参考意义。     

离子转运蛋白调控钝齿棒杆菌离子和pH稳态促进L-精氨酸合成

L-精氨酸是一种半必需氨基酸,广泛应用于食品、制药、饲料等行业。【目的】当前对L-精氨酸生产菌株的研究,极少涉及离子转运领域。在本研究中,发现在发酵时适量添加外源K~+有利于促进钝齿棒杆菌(Corynebacterium crenatum) SYPA5-5合成L-精氨酸。【方法】在C. crenatum SYPA5-5发酵培养基外源添加0.5 g/L和2.5 g/L的K_3PO_4,取对数期发酵样品进行转录组数据分析,挖掘出K~+转运相关的阳离子转运ATP酶CTAP1以及单价阳离子/H~+逆转运蛋白Mrp1A,研究其在C. crenatum SYPA5-5快速合成L-精氨酸阶段,对菌株生长及L-精氨酸合成的影响。【结果】对基因ctap1和mrp1分别进行敲除和过表达,深入研究突变株对L-精氨酸合成的影响。研究发现同时过表达离子转运蛋白CTAP1和Mrp1A更有利于胞内离子、pH稳态和渗透压调节,最终提高L-精氨酸的产量。在补料分批发酵中分别过表达Mrp1A、CTAP1以及同时过表达Mrp1A和CTAP1的菌株L-精氨酸产量分别达到61.4 g/L、63.9 g/L和65.3 g/L,产率分别为0.383 g/g、0.392 g/g和0.395 g/g,比C. crenatum SYPA5-5分别提高了34.9%、38.0%和39.1%。【结论】CTAP1是特异性的K~+转运ATP酶,可以将培养基中的K~+运输到胞内。同时Mrp1A可将胞内K~+和Na~+等单价阳离子运输到胞外,将胞外H~+运输至胞内,中和胞内L-精氨酸所导致的碱性环境,从而维持胞内pH稳定。CTAP1和Mrp1A的研究为解析离子转运机制和L-精氨酸合成之间的联系奠定了基础。     

发酵过程中原花色素对酵母氧化状态的影响

【目的】研究葡萄酒发酵过程中原花色素对酿酒酵母氧化状态的影响。【方法】以一株商业酵母和一株实验室筛选酵母为研究对象, 向模拟葡萄汁培养基中添加0.1、1.0 g/L原花色素, 考察发酵末期酵母活菌数和存活率, 以及不同时期酵母超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)的活性和丙二醛(MDA)的含量。【结果】原花色素可以提高发酵末期活菌的数量及存活率, 同时会提高胞内SOD和CAT的活性, 降低胞内MDA的含量, 而且原花色素含量越高作用越明显。【结论】在发酵过程中原花色素可以清除细胞内活性氧, 对细胞产生保护作用, 进而保证发酵顺利进行。     

XRE家族转录因子XrpA调控粘质沙雷氏菌的耐酸能力

【背景】工业菌株的耐酸能力是发酵过程中的一大挑战。粘质沙雷氏菌(Serratia marcescens)作为肠杆菌科的一种细菌,可生成2,3-丁二醇、乙偶姻和灵菌红素等高附加值产品。然而目前对于粘质沙雷氏菌酸耐受能力的分子机制尚不清楚。【目的】通过对转录调控因子XrpA的挖掘以及对其功能的研究,探究粘质沙雷氏菌酸耐受能力的分子机制,为改善工业菌株耐酸能力提供新的策略。【方法】通过对粘质沙雷氏菌进行转座子插入突变,构建了一个Tn5G转座子插入突变文库,利用文库筛选了一株酸敏感型突变株,并对其进行测序鉴定;同时还对突变菌株中与耐酸相关关键基因的转录水平以及细胞膜通透性、细胞膜完整性和H+-ATPase的活性变化进行检测。【结果】发现了一个响应酸胁迫的转录调控因子BVG90_23400,其属于XRE超级家族转录调控因子,命名为XrpA。在酸性条件下,与野生型菌株(JNB5-1)相比,xrpA被阻断后导致了粘质沙雷氏菌多种表型的变化,其中包括生物量显著下降、H+-ATPase活性降低、细胞膜的通透性以及完整性受到破坏。【结论】 XrpA影响粘质沙雷氏菌耐酸能力的分子机制是通过对细胞膜通透性、细胞膜完整性以及H+-ATPase活性的正向调节来维持细胞在酸性条件下的内环境稳态。同时,XrpA可以通过调节酸性应激反应基因的转录水平来影响细胞内环境稳态,从而调控粘质沙雷氏菌对低pH的耐受能力。     

微囊藻毒素降解菌的筛选、鉴定及其胞内粗酶液对藻毒素MCLR的降解

【目的】从巢湖底泥中分离筛选高效的藻毒素降解菌,并初步研究其胞内粗酶液降解藻毒素-LR(MC-LR)的特性,为水体中藻毒素污染的微生物治理提供有效的菌源与理论依据。【方法】利用富集驯化培养技术,以MC-LR为唯一碳源,分离筛选MC-LR降解菌,通过形态观察、生理生化实验及16S rRNA序列分析鉴定菌株,并考察其胞内粗酶液在不同条件下对MC-LR的降解特性。【结果】分离得到1株能高效降解MC-LR的菌株M6。分子鉴定结果表明,该菌株为蜡状芽胞杆菌(Bacillus cereus)。其降解MC-LR的活性物质为胞内酶,而且至少有3种酶参与了MC-LR的降解,它们是菌体本身的组织酶而非诱导酶。当反应体系pH值为8.0,胞内粗酶液浓度为404.9 mg/L,MC-LR的初始浓度为10 mg/L时降解率最高,16 h可达98.7%。【结论】分离出的MC-LR降解菌为蜡状芽胞杆菌,该菌株对MC-LR有较高的降解能力,并且酶促反应受到反应体系的pH值、胞内粗酶液浓度以及藻毒素初始浓度等因素的影响。     

The F1F0-ATPase of Bifidobacterium animalis is involved in bile tolerance

Adaptation and tolerance to bile stress are important factors for the survival of bifidobacteria in the intestinal tract. Bifidobacterium animalis is a probiotic microorganism which has been largely applied in fermented dairy foods due to its technological properties and its health-promoting effects for humans. The effect of the presence of bile on the activity and expression of F₁F₀-ATPase, the pool of ATP and the intracellular pH of B. animalis IPLA 4549 and its mutant with acquired resistance to bile B. animalis 4549dOx was determined. The bile-resistant mutant tolerated the acid pH better than its parent strain. Bile induced the expression of the F₁F₀-ATPase and increased the membrane-bound H⁺-ATPase activity, in both parent and mutant strains. In acidic conditions (pH 5.0), the expression and the activity of this enzyme were higher in the mutant than in the parent strain when cells were grown in the absence of bile. Total ATP content was higher for the mutant in the absence of bile, whereas the presence of bile induced a decrease of intracellular ATP levels, which was much more pronounced for the parent strain. At pH 4.0, and independently on the presence or absence of bile, the mutant showed a higher intracellular pH than its parent strain. These findings suggest that the bile-adapted B. animalis strain is able to tolerate bile by increasing the intracellular ATP reserve, and by inducing proton pumping by the F₁F₀-ATPase, therefore tightly regulating the internal pH, and provide a link between the physiological state of the cell and the response to bile.     

多杀性巴氏杆菌aroA基因缺失突变株的构建及鉴定

【目的】构建多杀性巴氏杆菌aroA基因缺失突变株,并验证其致病性。【方法】采用正向筛选同源重组技术构建多杀性巴氏杆菌aroA基因缺失突变株,利用PCR对突变株进行鉴定,分析其遗传稳定性、生长特性和致病性。【结果】成功构建多杀性巴氏杆菌aroA基因缺失突变株,连续传代20代,遗传稳定;突变株体外生长曲线表明,在前6h生长速度稍慢于亲本菌,随后两者生长速度一致。对小鼠的致病性试验表明:经腹腔注射aroA基因缺失突变株在1.0×106 CFU对小鼠无致死性,而亲本菌株在1.0×102 CFU对小鼠是致死性的。【结论】本研究获得多杀性巴氏杆菌aroA基因缺失突变株,对小鼠的致病性是减弱的。多杀性巴氏杆菌突变株的构建有助于研究其致病机理。     

假单胞菌株M18 psrA突变株的构建及其对吩嗪-1-羧酸和藤黄绿菌素合成的调控

【目的】假单胞菌M18是一株能同时合成吩嗪-1-羧酸(PCA)和藤黄绿菌素(Plt)两种抗生素的植物根际促生细菌。PsrA为细菌TetR家族转录调控因子。为了研究PsrA对PCA与Plt生物合成的影响,从M18菌株基因组中扩增psrA基因。【方法】通过同源重组技术,构建庆大霉素抗性片段置换psrA的突变菌株M18psrA。利用基因互补、lacZ报告基因融合分析实验,验证PsrA对抗生素合成基因的调控作用。【结果】在PPM和KMB培养基中,分别比较野生型菌株M18和突变菌株M18psrA的PCA与Plt产量,突变菌株M18psrA的PCA产量显著下降;Plt产量显著升高,为野生型菌株的10-15倍。基因互补、lacZ报告基因融合分析,进一步证明了psrA正调控PCA的phz2合成基因簇,负调控Plt的合成基因簇。【结论】PsrA区别性调控抗生素PCA与Plt的生物合成。     

Uncoupler resistance in Escherichia coli: the role of cellular respiration

Bioenergetic properties of a mutant strain of Escherichia coli K12 designated TUV, which is resistant to the protonophoric uncoupling agent 4,5,6,7-tetrachloro-2-trifluoromethylbenzimidiazole (TTFB) have been compared with those of its non-resistant parent, E. coli K12 Doc-S. Strain TUV grew and respired some 20-30% faster than strain Doc-S, and was cross-resistant to carbonylcyanide p-(trifluoromethoxy)phenylhydrazone and triphenyltin, but not to 2,4-dinitrophenol. Phosphorus nuclear magnetic resonance demonstrated the TTFB-mediated collapse of the transmembrane pH gradient at identical rates in starved cells of both strains, indicating that uncoupler access and function were unimpaired in the mutant under these conditions. Strain TUV displayed enhanced uncoupler resistance and maintained intracellular pH and ATP levels only when respiring. On the other hand, strain TUV also showed increased resistance to novobiocin, implying that its outer wall permeability had been lowered. We suggest that the active resistance of strain TUV results from the exclusion of uncoupler by the interaction of inner and outer membrane components in a manner modulated by the degree of cellular energization.     

Effect of lpdA gene knockout on the metabolism in Escherichia coli based on enzyme activities, intracellular metabolite concentrations and metabolic flux analysis by 13C-labeling experiments

The lipoamide dehydrogenase (LPD) encoded by lpdA gene is a component of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDHc), alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase (AKGDH) and the glycine cleavage multi-enzyme (GCV) systems. In the present study, cell growth characteristics, enzyme activities and intracellular metabolite concentrations were compared between the parent strain Escherichia coli BW25113 and its lpdA knockout mutant in batch and continuous cultures. The lpdA knockout mutant produced significantly more pyruvate and L-glutamate under aerobiosis. Some D-lactate and succinate also accumulated in the culture broth. Based on the investigation of enzyme activities and intracellular metabolite concentrations, acetyl-CoA was considered to be formed by the combined reactions through pyruvate oxidase (PoxB), acetyl-CoA synthetase (Acs) and acetate kinase (Ack)-phosphoacetyltransferase (Pta) in the lpdA mutant. The effect of the lpdA gene knockout on the intracellular metabolic flux distributions was investigated based on 1H-13C NMR spectra and GC-MS signals obtained from 13C-labeling experiment using the mixture of [U-13C] glucose, [1-13C] glucose, and naturally labeled glucose. Flux analysis of the lpdA mutant indicated that the Entner-Doudoroff (ED) pathway and the glyoxylate shunt were activated. The fluxes through glycolysis and oxidative pentose phosphate (PP) pathway (except for the flux through glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase) were slightly downregulated. The TCA cycle was also downregulated in the mutant strain. On the other hand, the fluxes through the anaplerotic reactions of PEP carboxylase, PEP carboxykinase and malic enzyme were upregulated, which were consistent with the results of enzyme activities. Furthermore, the influence of the poxB gene knockout on the growth of E. coli was also studied because of its similar function to PDHc which connects the glycolysis to the TCA cycle. Under aerobiosis, a comparison of lpdA mutant and poxB mutant indicated that PDHc is the main enzyme which catalyzes the reaction from pyruvate to acetyl-CoA in the parent strain, while PoxB plays a very important role in the PDHc-deficient strain.     

Properties of two different Na+/H+ antiport systems in alkaliphilic Bacillus sp. strain C-125.

Na+/H+ antiport was studied in alkaliphilic Bacillus sp. strain C-125, its alkali-sensitive mutant 38154, and a transformant (pALK2) with recovered alkaliphily. The transformed was able to maintain an intracellular pH (pHin) that was lower than that of external milieu and contained an electrogenic Na+/H+ antiporter driven only by delta psi (membrane potential, interior negative). The activity of this delta psi-dependent Na+/H+ antiporter was highly dependent on pHin, increasing with increasing pHin, and was found only in cells grown at alkaline pH. On the other hand, the alkali-sensitive mutant, which had lost the ability to grow above pH 9.5, lacked the delta psi-dependent Na+/H+ antiporter and showed defective regulation of pHin at the alkaline pH range. However, this mutant, like the parent strain, still required sodium ions for growth and for an amino acid transport system. Moreover, another Na+/H+ antiporter, driven by the imposed delta pH (pHin > extracellular pHout), was active in this mutant strain, showing that the previously reported delta pH-dependent antiport activity is probably separate from delta psi-dependent antiporter activity. The delta pH-dependent Na+/H+ antiporter was found in cells grown at either pH 7 or pH 9. This latter antiporter was reconstituted into liposomes by using a dilution method. When a transmembrane pH gradient was applied, downhill sodium efflux was accelerated, showing that the antiporter can be reconstituted into liposomes and still retain its activity.     

华癸根瘤菌外膜孔蛋白编码基因MCHK_1326突变株的构建与共生固氮表型分析

【目的】Mesorhizobium huakuii 7653R的MCHK_1326基因编码一种外膜孔蛋白,可能参与根瘤菌侵染宿主植物以及结瘤固氮过程,本研究旨在探索该基因在共生固氮中的功能。【方法】生物信息学分析MCHK_1326蛋白的结构特征及生物学功能,启动子原位表达技术检测MCHK_1326共生时空表达特征,利用Cre-loxp系统构建MCHK_1326缺失突变株,考察其共生固氮表型及早期侵染事件,通过植物盆栽并额外添加无机氮源,检测突变株接种紫云英后的共生固氮表型变化。【结果】MCHK_1326基因在侵染早期如侵染线的延伸等过程中表达,在成熟根瘤的侵染区表达,与野生型相比,突变体△1326侵染线和根瘤原基数量显著减少;植株地上部分鲜重与固氮酶活性极显著降低,根瘤数量和根瘤重量显著降低;额外添加无机氮源能恢复其共生缺陷表型。【结论】MCHK_1326基因参与根瘤菌早期侵染和结瘤,在根瘤发育与共生固氮过程中发挥作用。     

Dimorphism inBenjaminiella poitrasii: Involvement of intracellular endochitinase andN-acetylglucosaminidase activities in the yeast-mycelium transition

The chitinase and N-acetylglucosaminidase activities in cell-wall-bound and free fractions in the dimorphic fungus Benjaminiella poitrasii were studied as a function of morphological (unicellular yeast-mycelium) transition. The specific activities of chitinases of cell-wall-free, particularly in the membrane fraction, were significantly different in the yeast and mycelial forms. During the yeast-mycelium transition, the N-acetylglucosaminidase activity isolated in a membrane preparation increased steadily. The activity of the yeast cells (0.83 +/- 0.17 nkat/mg protein) increased 17-fold to 14.2 +/- 1.7 nkat/mg protein in 1-d-old mycelial cells. The endochitinase activity increased 12-fold between 6 and 12 h and thereafter practically remained unchanged up to 24 h. A reverse trend in the chitinolytic activities was observed during the mycelium-yeast transition. Isoelectrofocussing (pH range 3.5-10) of mixed membrane fraction free of particulate fraction of parent and morphological (Y-5, yeast-form) mutant cells separated endochitinase and N-acetylglucosaminidase activity into two pH ranges, viz. 4.3-5.7 and 6.1-7.7, respectively. The predominant N-acetylglucosaminidase activity observed at pH 6.9 and 7.1 for the parent strain membrane fraction was undetected in the mutant preparation. The results suggested that the membrane-bound (either tightly or loosely) chitinolytic enzymes, particularly, N-acetylglucosaminidase, significantly contributed to the morphological changes in B. poitrasii.