Chemotactic adaptation is altered by changes in the carboxy-terminal sequence conserved among the major methyl-accepting chemoreceptors

Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium can sense chemoeffectors in the environment and either migrate to or move away from the stimulus. A key element in effector identification and response generation is chemotactic adaptation. Adaptation in Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium is dependent on the pentapeptide comprising the carboxyl terminus of chemoreceptors. Methylation of selected residues in this region enable these organisms to adapt.