Part:BBa_K1019000

FimB: positive regulator of type I fimbriae

The fimB gene encodes for the FimB protein, a transcriptional regulator which mediates off to on switching of the major type 1 subunit fimbrin (pilin) FimA and other fimbrial genes in the fim operon.

Usage and Biology

The fimE acts opposite to fimB by mediating the on to off switching of the fim switch/promoter, fimS, which allows fimA (and associated fim operon genes) to be expressed depending on its state. Both fimB and fimE are recombinases that catalyze the inversion of fimS, thus controlling the expression of fimbriae.

Overexpression of fimB should in principle encourage fimbriae formation, thus leading to increased adherence to cells and surfaces. Fimbrial expression constitutes a defining feature of biofilms.

For further information and detailed references please refer to [http://www.ecocyc.org/ECOLI/NEW-IMAGE?type=GENE&object=EG10309 EcoCyc]

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References

Klemm, P. (1986). Two regulatory fim genes, fimB and fimE, control the phase variation of type 1 fimbriae in Escherichia coli. The EMBO journal, 5(6), 1389.

Pallesen, L., Madsen, O., & Klemm, P. (1989). Regulation of the phase switch controlling expression of type 1 fimbriae in Escherichia coli. Molecular microbiology, 3(7), 925-931.

McCLAIN, M. S., Blomfield, I. C., & Eisenstein, B. I. (1991). Roles of fimB and fimE in site-specific DNA inversion associated with phase variation of type 1 fimbriae in Escherichia coli. Journal of bacteriology, 173(17), 5308-5314.

Gally, D. L., Leathart, J., & Blomfield, I. C. (1996). Interaction of FimB and FimE with the fim switch that controls the phase variation of type 1 fimbriae in Escherichia coli K‐12. Molecular microbiology, 21(4), 725-738.

Sequence and Features

Assembly Compatibility:

• 10
  COMPATIBLE WITH RFC[10]
• 12
  COMPATIBLE WITH RFC[12]
• 21
  COMPATIBLE WITH RFC[21]
• 23
  COMPATIBLE WITH RFC[23]
• 25
  COMPATIBLE WITH RFC[25]
• 1000
  COMPATIBLE WITH RFC[1000]