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. 1980 Feb;141(2):858–867. doi: 10.1128/jb.141.2.858-867.1980

flu, a metastable gene controlling surface properties of Escherichia coli.

B Diderichsen
PMCID: PMC293697  PMID: 6102553

Abstract

flu, a gene of Escherichia coli K-12, was discovered and mapped between his and shiA. It is shown that flu is a metastable gene that changes frequently between the flu+ and flu states. flu+ variants give stable homogeneous suspensions, are piliated, and form glossy colonies. flu variants aggregate, fluff and sediment from suspensions, are nonpiliated, and form frizzy colonies. flu+ and flu variants can be isolated from most strains. Implications of these observations are discussed, and it is demonstrated that flu+ variants of strain P678-54 yield three times more minicells than flu variants.

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Selected References

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