Open AccessNatural transformation of Pseudomonas stutzeri by single‐stranded DNA requires type IV pili, competence state and comA
Author(s) -
Meier Petra,
Berndt Cecilia,
Weger Nicole,
Wackernagel Wilfried
Publication year - 2002
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.1574-6968.2002.tb11031.x
Subject(s) - pseudomonas stutzeri , dna , biology , transformation (genetics) , circular bacterial chromosome , pilus , microbiology and biotechnology , dna replication , gene , genetics , escherichia coli , bacteria
Pseudomonas stutzeri , in addition to being transformed by duplex DNA, is also transformed by the sense or antisense strand of the genetic marker employed ( hisX + ) or by heat‐denatured chromosomal DNA. Transformation was absent in non‐competent cells and in mutants defective for pilus biogenesis ( pilA , pilC ) and function ( pilT ) or DNA translocation into the cytoplasm ( comA ). Uptake of 3 H‐thymidine‐labeled single‐stranded DNA was hardly detectable reflecting the 20‐ to 60‐fold lower transformation compared to duplex DNA. The results suggest that the steps in natural transformation also accommodate single‐stranded DNA and that DNA translocation from the periplasm into the cytoplasm is not necessarily coupled to the degradation of a complementary strand. Small DNA single‐stranded fragments are thus not excluded from horizontal gene transfer by transformation.