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Role of pili and the phase-variable PilC protein in natural competence for transformation of Neisseria gonorrhoeae
- Source :
- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 92:7986-7990
- Publication Year :
- 1995
- Publisher :
- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 1995.
-
Abstract
- The Gram-negative bacterial pathogen Neisseria gonorrhoeae is naturally competent for transformation with species-related DNA. We show here that two phase-variable pilus-associated proteins, the major pilus subunit (pilin, or PilE) and PilC, a factor known to function in the assembly and adherence of gonococcal pili, are essential for transformation competence. The PilE and PilC proteins are necessary for the conversion of linearized plasmid DNA carrying the Neisseria-specific DNA uptake signal into a DNase-resistant form. The biogenesis of typical pilus fibers is neither essential nor sufficient for this process. DNA uptake deficiency of defined piliated pilC1,2 double mutants can be complemented by expression of a cloned pilC2 gene in trans. The PilC defect can also be restored by the addition of purified PilC protein, or better, pili containing PilC protein, to the mutant gonococci. Our data suggest that the two phase-variable Pil proteins act on the bacterial cell surface and cooperate in DNA recognition and/or outer membrane translocation.
- Subjects :
- DNA, Bacterial
Genotype
Protein subunit
Molecular Sequence Data
Restriction Mapping
Biology
medicine.disease_cause
Polymerase Chain Reaction
Pilus
Microbiology
chemistry.chemical_compound
Bacterial Proteins
medicine
DNA Primers
Multidisciplinary
Base Sequence
Natural competence
Genetic Variation
Drug Resistance, Microbial
Rifamycins
Neisseria gonorrhoeae
Transformation (genetics)
Phenotype
Oligodeoxyribonucleotides
chemistry
Genes, Bacterial
Fimbriae, Bacterial
Pilin
biology.protein
Fimbriae Proteins
Transformation, Bacterial
Bacterial outer membrane
DNA
Research Article
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 10916490 and 00278424
- Volume :
- 92
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....a3e366298ba8869a01de07db13d84db8