Disease relevance of rcsF

• Identification, cloning, and characterization of rcsF, a new regulator gene for exopolysaccharide synthesis that suppresses the division mutation ftsZ84 in Escherichia coli K-12 [1].

High impact information on rcsF

• Ion mutant cells harboring an rcsF mutation accumulate considerably lower levels of exopolysaccharides, whereas the presence of a multicopy rcsF plasmid not only increases capsule synthesis but also confers a mucoid phenotype at 37 degrees C, a temperature at which ion mutant cells are known not to form mucoid colonies [1].
• When overexpressed as a result of its presence on a multicopy plasmid, rcsF confers a mucoid phenotype and restores colony formation to ftsZ84 mutant cells on L agar medium containing no added NaCl [1].
• The deduced amino acid sequence encoded by the rcsF gene indicates a small protein of 133 amino acid residues with a calculated pI of 10.8 that is rich in proline, serine, alanine, and cysteine residues [1].
• This phenotype depends on the function of the rcsA gene, but not on that of rcsF [2].

References