Figure 5

Expression patterns of rpoE -like genes compared to fliC3 in total RNA taken from across the predatory cycle studied by RT-PCR. RT-PCR with transcript-specific primers on total RNA prepared from identical numbers of B. bacteriovorus HD100 predator synchronously invading an E. coli S17-1 prey culture, with samples taken as the predatory infection, and Bdellovibrio development proceeds across a time course. L- NEB 100 bp ladder, AP- attack-phase 15–15 minutes predation, 30–30 minutes predation, 45–45 minutes predation 1-4 h: 1,2,3,4 hours predation respectively. Controls of no template, no reverse transcriptase, E. coli S17-1 only RNA as template and B. bacteriovorus HD100 genomic DNA were carried out. Primers designed to bd0743 give a product in every sample, thus act as a positive control for the RNA, validating the lack of expression in some of the samples. A similar expression pattern was seen for bd0881 and fliC3.