Alternate hydrophobic sites on the cell surface of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus RAG-1

Abstract Mutants of A. calcoaceticus RAG-1 lacking thin fimbriae (35 Å) do not adhere to hydrophobic surfaces 5], or grow on hydrocarbons under conditions of weak agitation and small inocula. Emulsan-deficient derivatives of such mutants, isolated in the present study, (i) lacked cell-surface emulsan, (ii) adhered avidly to hydrocarbons, (iii) lacked thin fimbriae, and (iv) regained the capacity to grow on hydrocarbons. The results show that emulsan masks an alternate hydrophobic site(s) on the cell surface of RAG-1.