Open AccessThe genome of Neisseria gonorrhoeae retains the remnants of a two‐component regulatory system that once controlled piliation
Author(s) -
Carrick Catherine S,
Fyfe Janet A.M,
Davies John K
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.2000.tb09104.x
Subject(s) - neisseria gonorrhoeae , pilin , gene , biology , pilus , activator (genetics) , genome , genetics , sigma factor , neisseria , escherichia coli , bacteria , rna polymerase
An intact activator‐binding site upstream of the σ 54 promoter of the pilin‐encoding pilE gene of Neisseria gonorrhoeae suggests gonococci produce a protein capable of binding this sequence. We cloned a chimeric gene, rsp , that has sequence similarity to both the pilS and pilR genes of Pseudomonas aeruginosa encoding a two‐component regulatory system that controls piliation. This gene is transcribed in N. gonorrhoeae and indirect evidence suggests that Rsp binds to the activator‐binding site of the pilE gene. Despite this, mutation of rsp has no effect on piliation in N. gonorrhoeae , suggesting that the remnants of this regulatory system have persisted in the genome, despite the loss of its original function.