Differences in tagging Gram-negative and positive bacteria?

[Skwrl]

Hi there,

Recently I've been reading about tagging bacteria with GFP, mCherry and other fluorescent proteins. The article I'm reading now (Lagendijk et at., 2010, Genetic tools for tagging Gram negative bacteria with mCherry...) has information on tagging Gram-negative bacteria, but it doesn't say anything about Gram-positive ones. Is the principle similar or is tagging with marker genes different when the bacteria are Gram-positive?

Thank you in advance!

 

[iansmith]

As far as the fluorescent protein, it should not matter. Look at this article for example:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19264102

However, plasmids and promoter will matter. It has to do with plasmid compatibility and not every promoter will recognized or have the same activity.

 

[Evo]

As far as the fluorescent protein, it should not matter. Look at this article for example:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19264102

However, plasmids and promoter will matter. It has to do with plasmid compatibility and not every promoter will recognized or have the same activity.

Hey Ian! Good to see you back!

 

[Skwrl]

Thanks for the help!

 

[LudusRex]

I would like to provide a response to your question about the differences in tagging Gram-negative and positive bacteria.

Firstly, it is important to understand the fundamental difference between Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. Gram-negative bacteria have a thin peptidoglycan layer in their cell wall, while Gram-positive bacteria have a thick peptidoglycan layer. This difference in cell wall structure can impact the ability to tag bacteria with fluorescent proteins.

In general, the principle of tagging bacteria with fluorescent proteins is similar for both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. This involves inserting a gene for the fluorescent protein into the bacterial genome, which allows the bacteria to produce the protein and become fluorescent. However, the specific methods and techniques used may differ between the two types of bacteria.

For Gram-negative bacteria, the process of tagging may involve using plasmids or other genetic tools to insert the fluorescent protein gene into the bacterial genome. This may also involve using specific promoters that are known to be active in Gram-negative bacteria to drive the expression of the fluorescent protein gene.

On the other hand, tagging Gram-positive bacteria may require different techniques due to their thicker cell wall. This may involve using specialized genetic tools or methods for inserting the gene into the bacterial genome. Additionally, the choice of promoter may also be different for Gram-positive bacteria.

Overall, while the general principle of tagging bacteria with fluorescent proteins is similar for both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, the specific methods and techniques used may vary due to the differences in their cell wall structure. It is important for scientists to carefully consider these differences when designing experiments and selecting the appropriate tools for tagging bacteria.