Functional analysis of the essential GTP-binding protein coding gene cgtA of Vibrio cholerae

Infectious Diseases & Immunology Division, Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Kolkata 700 032, India

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. Email: rupakbhadra{at}iicb.res.in.

	Abstract

The cgtA gene, coding for the conserved G protein CgtA, is essential in bacteria. In contrast to a previous report, here we show by genetic analysis that cgtA is essential in Vibrio cholerae even in a relA negative background. Depletion of CgtA affected the growth of V. cholerae and rendered the cells highly sensitive to replication inhibitor hydroxyurea. Overexpression of V. cholerae CgtA caused distinct elongation of Escherichia coli cells. Deletion analysis indicated that the C-terminal end of the CgtA plays a critical role for its proper function.