Publications by authors named "Chaz Childs"
Cells of colonize the light organ of , providing the squid bioluminescence in exchange for nutrients and protection. The bacteria encounter DNA-rich mucus throughout their transition to a symbiotic lifestyle, leading us to hypothesize a role for nuclease activity in the colonization process. In support of this, we detected abundant extracellular nuclease activity in growing cells of .
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- V. fischeri colonizes the light organ of the squid Euprymna scolopes, facilitating bioluminescence in exchange for nutrients and protection, with extracellular nuclease activity aiding in this colonization process.
- Researchers identified a single transposon mutant strain with a gene mutation that completely lost nuclease activity, linking it to a gene homologous to a nuclease in Vibrio cholerae.
- Despite some loss of nuclease activity in mutants, residual activity was observed, hinting at the involvement of a second nuclease, which is crucial for the bacteria's natural transformation and competition for squid colonization.